Sanju Samson treated unfairly by home state, say former cricketers, ex-KCA officials

CAN a Team India cricketer who has several international and franchise commitments walk into their state team irrespective of whether they have attended a training camp for a tournament like Vijay Hazare Trophy or Ranji Trophy?

- MANISHA V C S @Kochi

On Monday, Mumbai announced its squad for the Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and Kashmir, and Rohit Sharma, who is struggling for form after a disastrous tour of Australia, walked into the team after nearly a decade.

And going by reports, Virat Kohli has made himself available for Delhi's Ranji clash against Railways on January 30 to get himself much-needed match practice. There are no such mercies for Sanju Samson, the star Malayali wicketkeeper-batsman. Despite expressing willingness to play for the state team, he was not picked to the Kerala team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-over national championship) as he had opted out of the training camp.