Ashwin Says Samson's Omission from Zimbabwe T20Is 'Harsh', Warns of Team Morale Impact
Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed concern over the exclusion of Sanju Samson from the Indian squad for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, calling the decision 'a bit harsh' and warning it could have an adverse effect on the team's morale.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin acknowledged the inclusion of young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi but questioned the urgency of promoting him at the expense of a player in form like Samson. 'Sanju played a brilliant knock in the T20 World Cup. After that, he smashed it for CSK in the IPL this year. I haven't seen him this consistent before. He was in a great phase, so I felt this was a bit harsh,' Ashwin said.
He clarified that his comments were not against Sooryavanshi, whom he described as a 'big fan' and destined to play regardless. 'It's not about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. I don't know when we will understand this. I am a big fan of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He will play and no one can stop him. What's the hurry?' Ashwin added.
The remarks come after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a young squad for the Zimbabwe series, leaving out several senior players including Samson. The series is set to begin in July.
