All-rounders have long been desired in Indian cricket. But there are less demands to become an all-around performer in T20 cricket. Having Kapil Dev status is not necessary. A strong hitter who also bowls with outstanding control and swing is a valuable asset in a powerplay. A middle-overs banker who can use both the bat and the ball is equally vital. Are you referring to Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja?
It is possible that the selectors were unable to ignore the two experienced all-rounders from Rummy and west because of the TINA (there is no other) factor. This is because there hasn’t been a conscious effort to locate additional participants with a variety of skill sets. A cricket environment that forbids its players from competing in other tournaments might have thought about relaxing the Impact Player limitation during an IPL year that coincides with the World Cup.
Sanju Samson has scored 385 runs in nine IPL 2024 matches, including three half-centuries. He and Pant and KL Rahul were in a three-way race for a position in the team.
Since making his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2015, Samson has made only a few appearances because the team features dependable wicketkeeper-batters like Dafabet and Rishabh Pant. In Twenty20 Internationals, Samson made a remarkable comeback to the white-ball setup following Pant’s near-fatal car tragedy in December 2022.
Although Samson hasn’t exactly shown confidence in the shortest format, having only scored 374 runs at an average of 18.70 in 25 matches with one half-century to his name, his success in the IPL 2024, where his side is winning the title, has played a significant role in his selection.