Sun Jan 19 20:42:56 UTC 2025: ## Gavaskar Explains Pant’s Selection Over Samson for Champions Trophy
**Mumbai, January 19, 2025** – Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has explained the selection of Rishabh Pant over Sanju Samson for the upcoming Champions Trophy squad. Speaking to a sports news outlet, Gavaskar stated that Pant’s “game-changing” ability was the deciding factor, despite Samson’s excellent form.
Pant and KL Rahul will be India’s wicket-keepers for the tournament. Gavaskar acknowledged Samson’s impressive run-scoring ability, saying, “It will be very difficult for a player like Sanju, who scores hundreds of runs, to accept this. There’s no single reason to explain Sanju’s omission, but Rishabh Pant, a game-changer, has edged him out. Furthermore, Pant is a left-handed batsman and an excellent wicket-keeper.”
Gavaskar clarified that while Pant may not be a superior batsman to Samson, his ability to alter the course of a match tipped the scales in his favor. He added, “Perhaps Rishabh Pant isn’t a better batsman than Sanju Samson, but he might be slightly better at changing the game. That’s why Sanju is out of the team. But Sanju shouldn’t be disappointed; Indian fans know very well how valuable his contributions have been.”
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