Former India Spinner Anil Kumble voiced his concerns over Sanju Samson‘s omission from the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, starting on November 30. On Day 3 of the second Test in Guwahati, Kumble hinted that the selectors may have underestimated Samson’s recent form while picking the team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India recalled Rishabh Pant for the ODIs. Pant’s last ODI appearance was in August 2024 against Sri Lanka in Colombo, and he now returns as India change its white-ball combinations.

Kumble mentioned that Samson was one of the players he had hoped to see in the squad. Looking back at Samson’s ODI record, he said, “Sanju Samson is one name I would have liked to see in the team. If you remember, the last ODI he played, he scored a century.”

Sanju Samson’s previous ODI outing was in December 2023 in Paarl, where he scored a patient 108 off 114 balls while batting at number three. Over 16 ODIs, he has accumulated three fifties and a century, with his calm and steady approach in the middle overs often earning him praise.

“When you’re playing across different formats, there’s a tendency to mix up form and other factors. This is something that should be kept in mind while selecting squads.”

He suggested that evaluating Samson’s ODI potential based solely on his T20 form could lead to a misjudgment. With Samson left out and Gill unavailable for the ODI series due to a neck injury, concerns are being raised about India’s batting order for the upcoming games.

It remains uncertain whether Samson will be considered for future ODIs, but Kumble’s comments have sparked a renewed debate about selection consistency and performance in different formats.