India wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has become the latest player to clear the BCCI’s 2-km run fitness test. Samson, who travelled to Australia with the white-ball team, is now eligible for selection for the white-ball series against England, which kicks off on March 12.
Samson on Saturday took to Twitter and confirmed that he has passed the test. His tweet came 24 hours after a report suggested that he was among 6 players who flunked the BCCI’s new fitness test. The report in Times of India had added that the players would be given another chance to pass the test. It isn’t known whether Samson cleared it in the first go or in the second attempt.
Apart from Samson, the likes of Ishan Kishan, Jaydev Uandkat, and Siddharth Kail have also cleared the test. Kishan had delivered the update on social media.
All the players who have passed the test are available for selection and the majority of them can be part of the squad as the selectors are likely to rest regulars.
Samson, who made his return to the T20I side in 2019, has yet to cross the 30-run mark. In fact, he has only scored 64 runs in 6 innings since his comeback. He has been criticised for his low scores and could lose his spot to either Kishan or Rishabh Pant.
Rishabh was dropped from the white-ball team for the Australia tour but is in line to make his return. Though the management will consider resting him.
Kishan, who scored 516 runs in IPL 2020, was expected to tour Australia but missed out as Samson was ahead of him in the pecking order. The left-handed batsman is expected to earn his maiden call-up for England T20Is.
