BCCI Extremely Worried About Sanju Samson Going The Rohit Sharma Way

Sanju Samson, Rohit Sharma [Source: AFP]

Sanju Samson has reportedly become a cause of concern for the BCCI, with the board worried that the Indian T20I opener could face fitness issues similar to those experienced by Rohit Sharma during different phases of his career.

In recent times, player fitness and weight management have come under the spotlight in Indian cricket. 

Earlier, pacer Harshit Rana suffered a hamstring injury during T20I series against England. According to a PTI report, the injury was linked to weight gain during his recovery and rehabilitation from knee surgery, eventually resulting in a hamstring problem midway through the series.

Against this backdrop, Sanju Samson's fitness has also reportedly become a topic of discussion.

BCCI Concerned Over Sanju Samson's Weight Gain

According to a report in Times of India, sources within the BCCI believe that Sanju Samson has gained some weight, which has raised concerns among officials. 

The report further stated that Samson tends to gain weight easily, while the overall fielding standards of the Men in Blue has also declined due to fitness-related issues.

"Besides Washington, who has always had fitness issues, it is concerning to see Sanju Samson putting on weight so easily. It is a result of the gap in the system. The overall fielding standard has dropped because of these fitness issues," the source told TOI.

Furthermore, the same source claimed that several senior international cricketers prefer training independently instead of seeking assistance from the BCCI's CoE.

"The players require a more hands-on, empathetic approach from the medical team. At the moment, most seasoned international cricketers are reluctant to seek CoE's intervention. They prefer to train under their own arrangements elsewhere. This needs to be addressed," the source added.

Also Read: Full List Of Changes In India T20 Squad vs Zimbabwe Compared To England Tour

Why Rohit Sharma's Example Is Being Discussed

Meanwhile, comparisons have been drawn with Rohit Sharma, whose career has witnessed periodic fitness concerns due to fluctuations in weight. It is important to note that Rohit has, at different stages of his career, faced scrutiny over his fitness levels. 

Notably, he also struggled on occasions to meet the BCCI's mandatory fitness benchmarks, including the Yo-Yo test. 

Carrying extra weight affected his mobility in the field, reduced his speed while running between the wickets and contributed to recurring hamstring and muscular injuries during long international tours.

Back in 2020, Rohit Sharma missed India's tour of Australia after suffering a hamstring injury during IPL. 

At that time, then India head coach Ravi Shastri revealed that Rohit's medical report had warned that he "could be in danger of injuring himself again" if he rushed his return to competitive cricket.

Therefore, concerns within the BCCI stems from the possibility that Samson could face similar challenges if his fitness and weight are not managed effectively.

Sanju Samson's Recent Form Also Under Scanner

Apart from fitness, Samson's recent performances have also failed to meet expectations. During India's T20I assignments in Ireland and England, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter endured a poor run with scores of 5, 0 and 1. 

Consequently, he was dropped for 2nd T20I against England in Manchester, allowing 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his long-awaited international debut. 

Meanwhile, Samson has also not been included in India's squad for the upcoming 2026 tour of Zimbabwe.

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