The BCCI on Sunday announced the a 16-member India T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series in New Zealand starting January 24. Although the selections were mostly on expected lines with Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami returning to the side after much-needed rest, the selectors chose to drop backup wicketkeeper batsman Sanju Samson, who played India's last T20I vs Sri Lanka on January 10.

While Samson's talent is in no doubt, his topsy-turvy international career took another dive on Sunday when he was released from the squad after playing just one game. Samson had played just 2 balls in the recent Pune T20I scoring a six - after more than 4 years of his India debut. The 2 matches are the only ones Sanju has played so far for the Men in Blue in his start-stop career.

Obviously his fans were in no mood to relent when the BCCI announced the squad late last night. They took to Twitter and let their anger out over the snub.

Can Anyone ask them, why they dropped Sanju Samson. He played only one match, how can you drop anyone after one inning. What would have been happen if team management drop Shivam after one inning, where he scored only 10+ runs.#BCCI#NZvIND @IamSanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/DNPxWYdPYQ Shiva (@urs_shivasharma) January 13, 2020

So sanju samson was given only 2 balls to play after 4 years

And dropped again https://t.co/2PUDyuI4wq KARAN (@Karan_thug) January 12, 2020

Sanju Samson has been dropped after playing 2 balls in span of 5 years.. @BCCI ab pani kaun pilayega? #SanjuSamson January 12, 2020

No matter how he performs, Rishabh Pant is our first choice wicketkeeper, we've asked Sanju Samson to wait for another 5 years to get a T20I - MSK Prasad#INDvAUS #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/IPzrK5yORv Abhijeet (@TheYorkerBall) January 12, 2020

The reason why India won't win T20 WC 2020....



By picking up Shikhar Dhewan who is totally useless in T20Is...

Also don't know why Sanju Samson was dropped..... https://t.co/pnLbffdxsI Kirtik Mitra (@Kirtik_Mitra) January 12, 2020

Retweet if you want Sanju Samson in place of Rishabh Pant Manish (@Man_isssh) January 12, 2020

Virat Kohli will lead the Indian team in the 5 T20Is against the Black Caps. The tour will kick-off with the T20I series starting from January 24. India will also play 3 ODIs and 2 Tests against Kane Williamson's team.

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who made a successful comeback to the team after a long injury lay-off in the two T20Is against Sri Lanka this week, has been retained his place in T20I side along with opener Shikhar Dhawan.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was expected to make a comeback in the T20I side, has not been selected after he failed the mandatory fitness test in Mumbai on Saturday and as a result, was pulled out of the India A squad for the New Zealand tour. The selectors had initially picked him in the squad without testing him in the Ranji Trophy games.