Former Indian spinner Murali Kartik praised Sanju Samson for adopting his new role in the middle-order and delivering the goods after the side’s triumph in the 2025 Asia Cup. The Men in Blue India pulled off a famous final over win in the finale against Pakistan in Dubai on September 28.
Despite giving up his opening position, where Sanju Samson had plundered runs for fun in T20Is over the past year, the wicket-keeper batter scored a crucial 21-ball 24 to bail India out of early trouble in the final. Samson walked into bat with India in real trouble at 20/3 in the run chase of 147 and added a game-changing 57-run stand with Tilak Varma.
Murali Kartik’s opinion on Sanju Samson.
Speaking to Cricbuzz on the post-match show, Murali Kartik said: “It wasn’t just a final on the line. It was about the adaptability of Sanju Samson. Everybody is talking about whether he can fit into that role. What he likes is up top but that’s not been given to him and has been given to Shubman Gill. He needed to soak in the pressure and be the second fiddle. This role he played was a lovely support cast at a very crucial juncture in that run chase.”
Murali Kartik further added: “Think of Sanju Samson- opening the innings and doing it well, suddenly asked to go down the order. Jitesh is more suited for that and all the talk in the build up to the tournament was about Jitesh. We thought Sanju Samson was not even going to play. And suddenly he’s put into this pressure situation. He’s got runs, in the three innings, he has got more than 100 runs, very close to Shubman Gill, who has had six innings when he has had only three innings.”
Despite not opening the batting throughout the tournament, Samson finished with an average of 33 and a strike rate of over 124 in seven games.
Dinesh Karthik Lavished Praise on Sanju Samson for his under pressure knock.
Former India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik also praised Sanju Samson for his crucial yet underrated role in India’s 2025 Asia Cup final win over Pakistan. The 30-year-old had smashed three centuries in T20Is since the middle of last year, entering the Asia Cup.
However, with Shubman Gill returning to the T20I side, Samson was forced to concede his opening spot and bat in the middle order in the Asia Cup. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik said: “He was opening and was such a success as an opener. But being sent at No.5 and even No. 8, tossed around the batting order, today under pressure he showed what it takes to absorb pressure. He didn’t win the game for us but he took it to a point where it could be won from there.”
With this win, India won their second consecutive Asia Cup title and a ninth overall. It is their second T20 crown having won the first one in 2016.
Sanju Samson really stepped up to the plate when it really mattered and formed an important partnership for the 4th wicket. He helped India stabilize the innings and played a crucial hand in India eventually getting to the target. Sanju Samson has adjusted well to the middle order and the flexibility of the batting. It is never easy to leave the opener’s slot and bat down the order. He did exactly that and helped his side win making everyone proud.
Going forward, Sanju Samson will be tasked to bat in the middle order and sterner challenges await him when they play Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand in bilateral series coming their way. India needs to use its resources properly and get the desired results for the team. They need to guard against complacency. Let us wait and see what’s the road ahead for India in this format.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Kuldeep Yadav’s 4-Wicket Haul Skittles Pakistan Out For 146