SL v IND 2021: Sanju Samson available for selection after recovering from knee injury, confirms BCCI

Samson had suffered a knee injury during the training session ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka.

As Virat Kohli and Co. are in the UK, a new-look Indian team led by Shikhar Dhawan with former India skipper Rahul Dravid as the head coach travelled to Sri Lanka for the white-ball tour of the Island nation. This new look India team consists of a mixture of experienced as well as youngsters.

Wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson who led Rajasthan Royals in this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) is also a part of the Indian team that will be taking on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series.

While a lot of fans and experts expected Samson to play against Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka side in the first ODI, a knee ligament injury that Samson had suffered during a training session kept him away from selection for the first ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

SL v IND 2021: Shashi Tharoor posts update on Sanju Samson's knee injury

But, the touring Indian team has received a boost as BCCI provided an update on Samson in their official statement and confirmed that the right-hand batsman from Kerala has recovered from the injury and will be available for selection.

“Sanju Samson has recovered from his knee injury and the medical team has declared him fit and available for selection,” BCCI said in a statement.

Earlier, BCCI's medical team had confirmed that Samson has sustained a knee injury during the training session. Wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan made his ODI debut for India in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. He scored a half-century as India won the match comfortably by 7 wickets.

As far as the second ODI concerned, Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka has won the toss and has decided to bat first with Kasun Rajitha replacing Isuru Udana, whereas the Men in Blue went in unchanged.