Shashi Tharoor slams Indian Cricket Team's selectors for sidelining Sanju Samson again
New Delhi: The exclusion of Sanju Samson from India's T20I squad has sparked controversy, drawing criticism on social media. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed the squad for the upcoming 5-match series against Australia, with uncapped Jitesh Sharma selected as the second wicketkeeper-batter alongside Ishan Kishan. Samson, who has experienced intermittent inclusions in the team recently, found himself sidelined once again.
The decision raised eyebrows, prompting Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor to express his disapproval. Tharoor, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, questioned the omission of the Kerala-born cricketer and suggested that, in the absence of senior players, Samson should have been named the captain for the series against Australia. Tharoor also inquired about the absence of spinner Yuzvendra Chahal from the squad.
"This is truly inexplicable. Sanju Samson should have not just been selected, he should have led the side in the absence of all the seniors. His captaincy experience with Kerala and Rajasthan Royals is more current than SKY’s. Our selectors need to explain themselves to the cricket-loving public. And why no Yuzvendra Chahal either," posted Shashi Tharoor on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Following their participation in the World Cup 2023 final, India is set to face Australia in a T20I series beginning on Thursday. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India will compete in a five-match T20I series against the newly crowned world champions.
The T20I squad for the Australia series features a mix of new and experienced players, with Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, and others getting an opportunity. Notably, experienced wicketkeeper Sanju Samson did not secure a place in the squad.
The first T20I between India and Australia is scheduled for Thursday in Visakhapatnam, with the series concluding at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on December 3.
India’s T20I squad for Australia series: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
This is truly inexplicable. @IamSanjuSamson should have not just been selected, he should have led the side in the absence of all the seniors. His captaincy experience with Kerala and @rajasthanroyals is more current than SKY's. Our selectors need to explain themselves to the… https://t.co/W251o89jzs
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 21, 2023
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship: How to apply, when to apply; details here
Bengaluru: The Azim Premji Foundation has announced the Azim Premji Scholarship for the academic year 2025–26, aimed at supporting up to 2.5 lakh girls across 18 Indian states who are pursuing higher education after completing school. An official release from the foundation also stated that in the coming years the scholarship will be implemented across the country.
When to Apply:
According to a release from the foundation, the application process for the Azim Premji Scholarship 2025–26 will commence in September 2025. “Details of the program and any changes in the program design or coverage will be notified at the start of the application process,” the release added.
Where to Apply:
According to the release, the scholarship this year will be implemented across 18 states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Students residing in these states and enrolled in recognised higher education institutions will be eligible to apply.
How to Apply:
-
Girls who have completed their Class 10 and 12 education in government (public) schools and have secured admission in a bona fide higher education institution either a government-run college/university or select private institutions can apply for the scholarship.
-
Once the application portal opens in September, students will be required to submit personal details, educational qualifications, proof of admission, and bank account information.
-
The scholarship amount ₹30,000 per year will be transferred directly into the students' bank accounts in two instalments each academic year, read the release.
