"How will you get selected for the Champions Trophy?" - Aakash Chopra on Sanju Samson not being picked in Kerala's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad
Aakash Chopra reckons Sanju Samson's non-selection for the Vijay Hazare Trophy might cost him a place in India's squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy. He pointed out that the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter had a chance to pip Rishabh Pant to a place in the Men in Blue's ODI side.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's inter-state ODI tournament, commenced on Saturday, December 21. While Samson wasn't picked in Kerala's squad, Mumbai ignored Prithvi Shaw while selecting their side.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener noted that Samson and Shaw's cases should not be compared. However, he opined that the Rajasthan Royals skipper might have put himself out of contention for a place in India's Champions Trophy squad.
"Let's talk about Sanju Samson because his name is not there in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at all. You might be thinking what happened - he didn't go to Wayanad, didn't attend the camp, so Kerala said they won't select him. Some fan page has put that Sanju had informed as well that he wouldn't be able to come as he had an injury in his leg," he said (7:35).
"However, they haven't selected him. It's important for Sanju to play Vijay Hazare. When you score three centuries in T20Is, even ODIs should be in your thoughts. Why not there also because Rishabh Pant is not yet established? However, for that, he needed to play the Vijay Hazare. How will you get selected for the Champions Trophy? You are not even in the scheme of things," Chopra added.
KL Rahul will likely be a certainty as a wicketkeeper-batter in India's squad for the Champions Trophy considering his performances in last year's ODI World Cup. Pant and Samson will potentially compete for the second keeper-batter's position.
"There were plenty of issues" - Aakash Chopra on Prithvi Shaw's non-selection
![Prithvi Shaw was part of Mumbai's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy-wimming squad. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/22a81-17347635818766-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra reflected on the reported reasons behind Prithvi Shaw's non-selection in Mumbai's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad.
"I read about Prithvi Shaw again. He used to miss practice sessions and miss them regularly. He was missing training sessions one after the other and came at six in the morning on a match day. There were plenty of issues. There are issues about work ethics and fitness," he said (8:55).
The cricketer-turned-commentator noted that the opener enjoyed great success at the start of his career and got a lucrative IPL contract.
"He had won the (Under-19) World Cup when he was 19 years old. He is the only Indian to score centuries on debut in the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Tests. He had a ₹1.25 crore contract earlier and then a ₹7.50 crore one, and played for three years after being retained," Chopra observed.
Chopra added that Shaw not getting an IPL contract and being dropped for the Vijay Hazare Trophy seems like a story of a fallen hero. He expressed hope of a turnaround, highlighting that the 25-year-old has age and talent on his side.