Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif spoke about his pick of wicketkeepers in Team India for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said that Sanju Samson should be picked ahead of Rishabh Pant as he felt he was the first to go ahead of the southpaw.
The Indian national cricket team squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will be announced on Saturday (January 18). One of the things that confused many is who will be the goalkeeper of the team in the tournament.
KL Rahul, who played in the 2023 ICC World Cup as a wicketkeeper, is said to be ready to play as a specialist batsman. Reports claimed that Rishabh Pant is all set to be the team’s first wicket-keeper, while the names of Samson and Dhruv Jurel are also under consideration.
The battle is most likely ready for that seat between Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. While the left-hander averages 33.50 in 31 ODIs, Samson has scored 510 runs at an average of 56.66 and has been in terrific white-ball form.
I think Sanju Samson went ahead of Rishabh Pant – Mohammad Kaif
According to Mohammad Kaif, Samson is superior to Rishabh Pant, and while he admitted there are emotions attached to the left-hander, he said the right-hander has become consistent. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:
“Sanju Samson went ahead. You have to understand this. With Rishabh Pant, people bind their emotions. He is a big winner in tests. Who can forget his knock at the Gabba and a hundred in South Africa? It does well in foreign conditions. He is a good goalkeeper. Rishabh Pant is a better wicket keeper than Sanju Samson; he has almost reached the same level as MS Dhoni.
“However, when it comes to batting, I think Sanju Samson was ahead of Rishabh Pant. He was hitting incredibly well. He smashed centuries for fun in South Africa, hitting more sixes than fours. He has the ability to hit sixes. He became consistent.”
He has reached the level where you need to keep him with KL Rahul in Champions Trophy squad – Mohammad Kaif on Sanju Samson
Mohammad Kaif said that Samson had the best year of his international career and asserted that now is the time for the team management to fully support him. He highlighted the right-hander’s composure, saying he has to be there with KL Rahul. He added:
“Sanju made his debut in 2015 in T20Is in Harare and his second match came in 2020. In 2024 he had his best year of his career. Sometimes you make him open and sometimes you make him bat in the middle order. He never He has seen a lot of ups and downs but we have never fully supported him. I think Sanju Samson has gone way ahead of Rishabh Pantalone..”
“Sanju Samson is a relaxed batsman. He has benefited from leadership in the IPL. He has reached that level where you need to keep him with KL Rahul in the Champions Trophy squad.”
Someone needs to tell him his white ball stats aren’t that good – Mohammad Kaif on Rishabh Pant
Mohammad Kaif concluded by saying that Rishabh Pant should be told that his stats with the white ball are not as good as his form with the red ball. He emphasized that the batsman has to work hard as Samson earns the right to be selected for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. He said:
“Rishabh Pant must recognize the reality. If someone tells him ‘bad things are being done to you’, he is not saying the right thing. Rishabh Pant should stay away from such friends. Someone needs to tell him that his white ball stats aren’t that great. Sanju Samson really deserved that opportunity to go to the Champions Trophy. Rishabh Pant has to work hard.”
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