Sanju Samson, after struggling early in T20Is, recently hit three centuries in five innings but was later sidelined by a poor England series and injury.
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Sanju Samson Faces Setback as Shubman Gill Returns to India’s T20I Side
Sanju Samson’s first 28 innings in international T20s yielded just two half-centuries and 11 single-digit scores. Despite his immense talent and prolific IPL record, the right-hander from Kerala seemed destined for a less fulfilling T20I career.
Then, without warning, he smashed three centuries in five innings over a few weeks in October-November last year, including back-to-back hundreds against Bangladesh in Hyderabad and South Africa in Durban — making him the first Indian to achieve successive T20I centuries. Samson appeared to have finally turned a corner.
At his best, Sanju Samson cuts a glorious figure: sinewy, graceful, with impeccable timing and effortless placement. He rarely strikes in anger, yet the ball races to the boundary or soars into the stands, thrilling fans. Yet, his brilliance has often been followed by frustration. After his electric phase, he scored just 52 runs in the five-match series against England in January-February, repeatedly dismissed on the leg-side, often pulled against pace, including thrice by Jofra Archer.
During the final match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Sanju Samson was struck on his right index finger by a lifter from Archer, resulting in a fracture. He wasn’t cleared to keep wickets at the start of Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2025 campaign. As Impact Player, he batted in only the first three matches, and Rajasthan finished ninth with Samson tallying 285 runs in nine appearances.
In 17 T20Is, the 25-year-old Abhishek has already scored two centuries at a strike rate of 193.84, including a 135-run knock off 54 deliveries against England at the Wankhede. His left-handed batting and handy left-arm spin add further value, positioning him as a key component of India’s Asia Cup strategy.
Samson’s Spot Under Scrutiny as Jitesh Sharma Gains Edge in Asia Cup Setup
There’s a case being made for Sanju Samson to bat at No. 3, but displacing Tilak Varma—who scored successive tons after securing that position from Suryakumar Yadav in South Africa—remains a challenge. Samson has scored almost all his T20 runs at the top of the order, leaving limited evidence of his capabilities at No. 5 and beyond. This gives Jitesh Sharma an edge; the Jharkhand stumper, who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, was a key influencer in RCB’s maiden IPL title, scoring 261 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 176.35, often finishing games in the latter half of the innings.
India’s four practice sessions at the ICC Academy Oval since arriving in Dubai last Thursday have offered insight into the team’s thinking. Jitesh has been put through extensive wicketkeeping drills and batted longer against fresher bowlers than Samson. Observers noted that Jitesh participated in Tuesday evening’s optional training ahead of Wednesday’s opener against the UAE, while Samson did not, hinting at the think-tank’s current alignment.
If Samson does miss out, it would be disappointing, but he must recognize that team dynamics take priority over individual aspirations. He is still very much in contention and can focus on giving himself the best chance to succeed whenever he gets the opportunity—whether it comes on Wednesday or later in the tournament.
