Sanju Samson's inclusion in India's Asia Cup 2025 squad is overshadowed by doubts about his playing time. With Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma likely opening, and Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav
Former cricketer Devang Gandhi attributes Samson's struggles to inconsistency, particularly against short-pitched deliveries, as seen in the recent T20I series against England. Gandhi suggests Samson needs to demonstrate greater adaptability to secure a regular spot in the team.
Samson's likely role will be as a backup opener, with Jitesh Sharma favored as the wicketkeeper-batter. This raises questions about Samson's long-term prospects in the T20I format, despite his undeniable talent.
“You can't ignore the talent Samson has, but he is already close to 31. If he could not seal his place, it's because he could never be consistent, even in the IPL. There are obvious issues with him playing the heavy ball. He probably fell behind because he struggled to play the pace of England's bowling attack at home. But if he can show he is flexible enough, he can finally seal his spot.”
Best run at Top Order position in IPL 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | RR | 3781 runs | |
| #2 | MI | 3312 runs | |
| #3 | MI | 3304 runs | |
| #4 | RCB | 3191 runs | |
| #5 | PBKS | 2984 runs |
Best sixes at Top Order position in IPL 2025 (min 3 innings)
| Rank | Player | Team | sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | RR | 179 sixes | |
| #2 | MI | 135 sixes | |
| #3 | MI | 135 sixes | |
| #4 | PBKS | 128 sixes | |
| #5 | LSG | 124 sixes |
