Irfan Pathan's honest take on Sanju Samson after India recall Ashwin for ODI series vs Australia before World Cup

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCI) announced India's team for a series against australia in which Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav won't play in the first two games.

However, wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was left off the list, so the star batsman didn't make it back to the Indian team for the Australia series. Irfan Pathan, a former Indian all-rounder, said something interesting about Samson on Monday in response to India's release of its team for the three-match series against Australia.

Samson had a few forgettable games against the West Indies in the Caribbean, but he was still put on India's Asia Cup team as a backup hitter. Samson wasn't picked for India's ICC World Cup team, though. Instead, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan were chosen by Ajit Agarkar to be the two wicketkeepers for the Men In Blue at the ICC World Cup 2023.

"If I were in Samson's place…"

India chose its teams for the three games against Australia on Monday. The team led by Rahul Dravid chose two different teams for the Australia series. For the first two One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Australia, young players Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, and Washington Sundar were called back. Samson's name was not on either team.

"If I'm in place of @IamSanjuSamson right now, I'd be very disappointed," said former cricket player Irfan on X, which used to be called Twitter, after India announced their team.

Ashwin gets back into ODIs before the World Cup.

Rahul and Kishan are the most likely candidates to be India's wicketkeepers, but Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Shubman Gill have kept their spots in the ODI team. India's team for the first two ODIs against Australia will now include the young Tilak Varma. The most talked-about thing after India announced their team was Ashwin's return. India's 15-person World Cup team did not include the top all-rounder.

Ashwin also didn't play for India in the Asia Cup. But because Axar Patel hurt his leg, Ashwin was able to get back into the ODI team. Ashwin, an all-rounder who can bowl with a spin, hasn't played an ODI for India since 2022.

India squads for Australia ODIs:

For first two ODIs: KL Rahul (c), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna, R Ashwin, Washington Sundar.

For 3rd ODI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel (subject to fitness), R Ashwin, Washington Sundar.