Mohammad Kaif has revealed his selection for India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 where Sanju Samson will be considered over Rishabh Pant.
The anticipation of the squad announcement grows as it is set to take place on January 18. On this occasion, Kaif has built a squad from the successful ODI World Cup 2023 team, the spotlight is on the final selection of 15 players and those left out.
The decision to consider Sanju Samson over Rishabh Pant, a choice endorsed by the former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that the Kerala batsman deserves a spot deserves a spot despite concerns around his wicketkeeping compared to Pant’s.
Talking on his YouTube Channel, Kaif compared the duo and though Indians are emotional about Pant but the BCCI needs to accept the reality and back Samson for the tournament.
“Sanju Samson has gone ahead. You have to understand this. With Rishabh Pant, people have their emotions attached. He is a big match-winner in Tests. Who can forget his knock at the Gabba and the hundred in South Africa?”
“He performs well in overseas conditions. He is a good wicketkeeper. Rishabh Pant is a better wicketkeeper than Sanju Samson; he has almost reached the same level as MS Dhoni,” said Kaif.
However, Kaif thinks that Sanju haas to get into the team ahead of Pant in White-ball cricket.
“However, when batting is concerned, I think Sanju Samson has gone ahead of Rishabh Pant. He has been batting incredibly well. He smashed centuries for fun in South Africa, hitting more sixes than fours. He has the ability to hit sixes. He has become consistent,” he added.
“Sanju debuted in 2015 in T20Is in Harare, and his second match came in 2020. In 2024, he had his best year of his career. You sometimes make him open, and sometimes you make him bat in the middle order.”
“He never had a permanent spot. He has seen many ups and downs, but we have never fully backed him. I think Sanju Samson has gone far ahead of Rishabh Pant,” he further said.
Mohammad Kaif’s India Squad for Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami.
