Sanju Samson has served another reminder to Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav with another fiery half-century in the Kerala Cricket League. The swashbuckling opener has been in sensational form in the domestic T20 league as he scored 83 runs off 41 balls against Alleppey Ripples on Sunday night. Sanju Samson stood tall for Kochi Blue Tigers in the tricky 177-run chase and helped his team register another win.
It was another display of brute power from Sanju Samson as he smashed 9 sixes to make life difficult for the opposition bowlers. He also hit two fours, which faded away in his highlights package filled with the sixes.
Sanju Samson notched up his fourth straight fifty-plus score in the tournament, following knocks of 121 off 51, 89 off 46, and 62 off 37. With 368 runs in five innings at a blistering strike rate of 186.80, he now sits second on the list of highest run-getters this season. Sanju Samson’s fifty on Sunday once again highlighted his case to the Indian team management ahead of the Asia Cup, especially with stiff competition for the opening slot.
However, Shubman Gill is strongly tipped to partner at the top, having been named vice-captain for the tournament. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar also suggested as much, pointing out that Sanju Samson opened in recent T20Is only because Gill was unavailable due to his commitments in other formats.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma might also get a nod over Samson in the XI with his ability to roll the arm over as a part-time spinner. Last year, Sanju Samson smashed 436 runs in 12 innings at an average of 43.60, with a strike rate of 180.16, including three centuries and a fifty, but despite putting up such performances, he might lose his opening slot.
Sanju Samson has been in an outstanding form in the past few years in T20I. With 417 runs at an average of 37.90 and a strike rate of 183.70 in 12 games—including an incredible three hundreds—the stylish batter Sanju Samson has amassed the highest run total among wicketkeepers. Sanju Samson has also had outstanding results in T20 cricket overall over the past 12 months, scoring 739 runs at an average of 35.19 and strike rate of 161.70 in 23 games
The wicketkeeper batter may need to slot into the middle order to secure a spot in the XI, though that could be challenging given his limited exposure in that role.Mohammed Kaif supports Sanju Samson for India’s Asia Cup XI at No. 3, citing his six-hitting ability and strong IPL record over Tilak Varma.
Mohammed Kaif supports Sanju Samson to shine in Asia Cup 2025
Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has said that Sanju Samson would be effective against spin and in the middle overs because of his six-hitting ability, backing the latter to find a place in India’s playing XI even as his spot remains in doubt after Shubman Gill’s inclusion as vice-captain for the Asia Cup. Kaif noted that Samson has performed even in South Africa, where the conditions for batting are quite hard.
Kaif added that Samson has scored over the years in IPL as well, adding that he deserves a place in the XI.
“He is among the top 10 six-hitters in the IPL. That is why I believe when Rashid Khan comes to bowl in the middle overs, there cannot be a better player against him than Sanju, as he can hit sixes down the ground,” Kaif said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“South Africa has one of the toughest conditions for batting and he has hit two centuries as an opener there. He plays both pace and spin well and in the IPL, he scores 400-500 runs every year,” Kaif said.
Sanju Samson has struck 219 sixes in the Indian Premier League, the ninth-most in the tournament’s history. But Sanju Samson couldn’t make a significant impact with the bat in the five-match home series against England earlier this year. Kaif said that the Indian team management should go with Sanju Samson ahead of Tilak Varma for the No. 3 spot.
“Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill will open (in the Asia Cup). For the No. 3 spot, I feel Tilak Varma is a youngster and can wait for his turn. Sanju is an experienced batter and he could be groomed by giving him consistent opportunities at No. 3,” Kaif said.
“There is a World Cup after six months and he deserves a chance,” the former India cricketer added.
The Men in Blue will kick off their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10, while the high-voltage game against arch-rivals Pakistan is scheduled for September 14, with both fixtures set to be played in Dubai. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav and Co. will play their final group stage fixture against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
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