Sanju Samson's choice to forgo the preparatory camp for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, resulting in his exclusion from Kerala's squad, may have further repercussions for his career. A report from PTI indicates that the wicketkeeper-batter risks missing a place in India's Champions Trophy squad due to his decision not to participate in the Vijay Hazare, which is India's domestic 50-over tournament.

Samson was included in the preliminary list of 30 players for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, he was ultimately not selected for the tournament after failing to attend Kerala's training camp. The team conducted two practice matches at the Krishnagiri Stadium in Wayanad, following which the selectors announced a 19-man squad, with Salman Nazir appointed as captain due to his commendable performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament.

Samson was vying for the second wicketkeeper position in India's Champions Trophy, but his last appearance in a 50-over match was during India's tour of South Africa in December 2023. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has adopted a firm policy regarding national players who miss domestic competitions without valid injury reasons. Consequently, probably, Samson will not be considered for the Champions Trophy, despite being the preferred choice in T20 internationals. He is expected to open the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma in India's upcoming home series against England.

The discussion surrounding the second wicketkeeper position has intensified following PTI's report that KL Rahul is no longer being considered for the specialist role in ODIs. The report stated, "KL Rahul's presence behind the stumps during the ODI World Cup provided balance to the Indian team, but the elegant Karnataka right-hander is unlikely to take on the wicketkeeping duties in white-ball cricket moving forward."

Rishabh Pant, and Dhruv Jurel likely to be India's keepers for the Champions Trophy

In the context of the wicketkeeper position, Rishabh Pant is the clear frontrunner. However, the competition for the second wicketkeeper role appears to be a contest among Dhruv Jurel, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan, with Jurel currently in a favourable position to secure the spot.

Samson's chances may diminish due to his decision to forgo participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Kishan has played 27 One Day Internationals, accumulating 933 runs at an impressive average exceeding 42, which includes a double century and seven half-centuries. Nevertheless, he has recently fallen out of favour with the selection committee after opting out of domestic cricket last year, resulting in the loss of his BCCI annual central contract.

His performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has been modest, with 316 runs in seven matches, including one century against a team from one of the northeastern states.

Although Kishan was included in the World Cup squad, the young player from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan Royals, Jurel, has garnered significant attention and could very well emerge as the second wicketkeeper.

Jurel has also been included in the T20 squad for the upcoming series against England, serving as an understudy to Sanju Samson. His T20I debut in Zimbabwe marks a notable achievement, and the selection committee, under Ajit Agarkar, appears to be keen on integrating him into the white-ball format.

Looking ahead, it is anticipated that Pant and Jurel will be the primary wicketkeepers for India in both Test and ODI formats, while Samson is expected to be more suited for the T20 format, where he has recorded three centuries towards the end of 2024.

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