Sanju Samson has been named in India's T20I squad for Australia series.
Mohammad Kaif, a former Indian cricketer, has chastised head selector Ajit Agarkar and the selection committee for choosing Dhruv Jurel over Sanju Samson for India's next ODI series against Australia.
On October 10, 2025, Kaif expressed his displeasure with the decision, noting that while Jurel has talent, Samson would have been a better match for the middle-order position.
The selection decision has sparked debate on social media, with cricket experts and fans speaking out. The key point of contention is the team's composition in the middle of the batting order.
Dhruv Jurel received praise for his talent and performances from Mohammad Kaif, but he emphasized that this shouldn't overshadow Samson's consistent performances and specific skill set.
"I feel that Dhruv Jurel played really well when he scored that century (against WI). He looked very compact and organized, and he is definitely the future of Indian cricket. He has that ability to score in every match. But leaving out Sanju Samson was a wrong decision because Sanju usually plays in the lower order, around number five or six, and for that position, he is a much better option than Jurel," Kaif stated on his YouTube channel.
However, Sanju Samson has been chosen as the primary wicketkeeper in India’s T20I series in Australia. Meanwhile, KL Rahul will be the primary keeper in the ODIs, with Jurel as his backup.
Mohammad Kaif stated that Samson’s brilliant skills against spinners make him vital in India’s middle order. He also said that Samson’s skill set would have been particularly useful in Australian conditions.
“At that spot, you need someone who can hit sixes, especially against spinners. We saw Sanju Samson’s strength in the Asia Cup. If he had gone to Australia, he would have hit Adam Zampa for maximums. He’s in the top 10 for most sixes in the IPL, and he fits perfectly at number 5 or 6 in Australian conditions,” Kaif added.
The former India batter also cautioned against judging selections solely on short-term form.
“Right now, we tend to focus only on current form, like how well Jurel has played recently, and in doing so, we forget players like Sanju who have been performing consistently and are deserving,” he said.
Samson has played 16 ODIs for India, scoring 516 runs, including three fifties and one century, at an average of 56.66. His highest score is 108, which came in South Africa.