Follow UsSanju Samson has been named in India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, starting September 9 in the UAE. However, there is still uncertainty over his place in the Playing XI, with selectors picking Shubman Gill as India's new vice-captain. If Gill plays, Samson could be the unlucky omission, with Jitesh Sharma likely to take the gloves and slot in as a finisher.
Samson, though, is making that decision incredibly hard for head coach Gautam Gambhir. The wicketkeeper-batter is in blistering form in the ongoing Kerala Cricket League (KCL) 2025.
On August 31 (Sunday), Samson hammered a 49-ball 83 to power Kochi Blue Tigers to a comfortable chase of 177 against Alleppey Ripples, with 10 balls to spare. This knock marked his fourth consecutive 50-plus score in the competition.
His recent scores read: 121 (51), 89 (46), 62 (37), and 83 (41). In just five innings this season, Samson has hit 368 runs at an average of 73.6 and a strike rate of 186.8, decorated with 24 fours and 30 sixes.
This purple patch comes on the back of his impressive run in T20Is, where Samson has struck three centuries in his last 10 innings. Despite the weight of numbers, team combinations could still work against him in the Asia Cup XI. Yet, his current form is building pressure on captain Suryakumar Yadav and Gambhir, making it increasingly difficult to bench him.
Adding to the buzz, Samson has also dominated headlines off the field. The 30-year-old is widely expected to part ways with Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of IPL 2026. With RR already moving on from coach Rahul Dravid, Samson has been linked with multiple franchises and could be a major trade or release story going into the next auction.
For now, though, Samson’s bat is doing all the talking, and his timing couldn’t have been better with the Asia Cup around the corner and a T20 World Cup just a few months away.