The buzz around where Sanju Samson will bat in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 playing XI is gathering steam each passing day. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) keeper batter is one of the two keepers selected in the Continental Cup squad - other being Jitesh Sharma. However, Samson, who opened majorly in 2024 and early 2025 for India in T20Is, might not be designed opener as the BCCI selection panel have picked Shubman Gill as the opener, and also appointed him vice-captain of the side.
While there has been a strong criticism of India Test skipper's inclusion in the squad based on his form in one format, there is also a strong case that the 25-year-old might open in the Asia Cup alongside Abhishek Sharma. Gill scored 650 runs for the Titans in the IPL 2025 season, and he predominantly bats as an opener in T20Is. However, with no fault of Samson's, he now finds himself not being selected in the playing XI or playing as a non-opener.
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Notably, as an opening batter in T20Is, Sanju Samson slammed three hundreds - the most by a batter in the last year. However, with Gill's inclusion, the Royals skipper may have to bat lower down the order or in the finishing role. The 30-year-old's coach, Raiphi Gomez, believes his ward can bat at number 6 in the Continental Cup.
Sanju Samson can play the finisher role in Asia Cup: Raiphi Gomez
“His flexibility is what guides him, and he is very confident about his abilities,” former Kerala and Pondicherry all-rounder Raiphi Gomez, also Samson’s mentor-cum-coach, told The Telegraph from Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
Notably, the wicketkeeper-batter also batted as a non-opener in the ongoing Kerala Premier League (KCL 2025) season. Gomez feels batting lower down the order could help him play the finisher role. The KCL season also helped Samson get back to form after he showed a dip in it in the IPL 2025 season. He has slammed a century, demonstrating the X-factor tag he carries.
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“Has Sanju said anything about being under pressure? No. So, it’s all outside noise, and we are not really concerned about what is being said outside,” Gomez, who knows Samson since the latter was only 15 and has also played in the IPL for the now-defunct Kochi and Pune franchises, pointed out.
“Our focus is on making sure Sanju keeps getting better with the bat. He is only concerned about the job he needs to do for India.”
“What happened in the England T20Is is part and parcel of the game, which every cricketer goes through. Then, after the injury during the IPL, he spent necessary time at the (BCCI) Centre of Excellence to regain fitness, and now, he appears well placed rhythm-wise, playing in these KCL matches,” Samson’s mentor-cum-coach emphasized.
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Following his blazing unbeaten 121 of 54 balls, Samson followed it up with a 46-ball 89, signaling a warning to the rest of the teams in the Asia Cup - that he is ready to roar.
