NEW DELHI: Sanju SamsonThe youth coach, Biju George, has criticized the selectors after the player was dropped from the Indian team for the three T20Is against Zimbabwe. The decision came as a surprise as Samson had played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup victory earlier this year. The right-hander was named the Player of the Tournament after scoring 97 not out, 89 and 89 in India’s last three matches.George said he was heartbroken by the decision and felt that Samson should run more after helping India win the World Cup.“I accept that he failed in three games. But he is not the only one who failed. Right? I feel very sad. I am completely broken because I thought that, at least next year, I would give him five or six matches, three rounds, three consecutive rounds. Give him a slot. Sad, ” George told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.“With this talent, there is no question about his character. There is no doubt that he was your match winner. He won you the World Cup. Now, how can you do this to him? It’s like some things you can’t understand-why they happen. Right? Very sad. So you defend it,” he said.Samson also enjoyed the fine IPL season, scoring two centuries – the most and hitting in the tournament.However, a haul of 5, 0 and 1 on the tour of Ireland and England saw him lose his place to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. While Samson remains with the Indian team in England, where India are trailing 2-0, he has been left out of the Zimbabwe T20Is.His absence has raised many questions as Samson is still part of India’s all-powerful squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan later this year.With Samson unavailable, the Zimbabwe series is expected to provide more opportunities to Sooryavanshi. India recalled Rinku Singh and invited the maiden to Prabhsimran Singh.Responding to speculation that Samson may have been rested to give the youngsters a chance, George wondered when the wicketkeeper-batsman would get another chance to make his mark.“Can they rest to give opportunities to young players?“Does he have a chance to prove himself before that? When is the next tour after Zimbabwe? What is the calendar? What is the next tour? I think it is a very long trip. I think Sri Lanka, maybe. So they change the squad while waiting for that? I don’t know. Yes.“Maybe they’ll have to come back and fix it, which they will. But this is not the case.”George said Samson has been treated unfairly since his younger days and believes the latest miss is part of an ongoing scandal.“Look, why do people see players differently? When Sanju Samson comes, everything becomes difficult for him. When XYZ comes in, they are treated with kid gloves,” George said.“This has happened to Sanju since the Under-19 stage. Even when he was scoring runs, he was not selected for the Under-19 side. Instead, Unmukt Chand was selected. Then, out of nowhere, Vijay Zol became the captain. Sanju was not ignored. Later, Sanju became the vice-captain,” he said.
‘Bringing down Surya, foolish Samson’
George said Samson’s performance in the T20 World Cup should have given him a long run.He came back to help Suryakumar Yadavwho led India to the T20 World Cup title but was dropped as captain and from the team.“Honestly, if you look at it, if Sanju hadn’t played three consecutive matches, the selector wouldn’t have kept his job, nor would the chief selector. The whole team would have been fired.“Now, young man, the captain who won you the World Cup, the player who was the Man of the Tournament, has been dropped, which is ridiculous. And there are other players – not to mention anyone – who come right away and get into the playing XI. There are other players who are given such a big opportunity. Why not be like this guy?”
‘Repetitive behavior’
George said Samson often found himself fighting for his position despite playing match-winning plays when given the chance.“This is not the first time it has happened to Sanju. This is a repeated incident with him. He gets injured, then he is dropped after the World Cup, then the goals run and are dropped again. It is like, for him, it is always a combination of what he has to do in one game or in any other game. See, for someone who is batting at the top, someone who is hitting 40-plus at 1 or 40, very difficult to keep 1 1. consistently. Well?,” George was frustrated.“So let’s see. I pray that he takes it very well, comes back, gives his best, and proves these people wrong,” he signed off.