Sanju Samson put on a show for Kochi Blue Tigers by blasting a 42-ball century for the last placed team against Aries Kollam Sailors in the Kerala Cricket League on Sunday. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter assaulted the bowling, reaching three figures with 13 fours and 5 sixes in his innings – Samson’s effort is being interpreted as a strong statement going into the Asia Cup, with his position as opener now under significant threat with Shubman Gill coming back into the team. Reports suggest that Samson could be pushed to the middle order or risk losing his spot if Gill and Abhishek Sharma prove to be the successful opening combination going into the tournament.
Samson wasted no time in getting the big chase underway, hitting two boundaries and a six in the first over. He kept up this assault through the Powerplay, as Kochi raced to a tournament-record 100 runs in only six overs. The innings highlight was a blistering explosion of a half-century by Samson from just 16 balls, the fastest half-century of this edition.
Samson has played 42 T20I matches for India, scoring 861 runs (38 innings) at an average of 25.38, and with three centuries and two fifties. Samson was the leading batter in T20I matches for India, between his three centuries and one fifty, with 436 runs from 12 innings at an average of 43.68, and with a strike rate of 180.16.
In the latest match (August 24- Kerala Cricket League 2025), Kochi Blue Tigers won a thriller by 4 wickets against Aries Kollam Sailors (236/5) on the back of Vishnu Vinod’s 94 & Sachin Baby’s 91. Kochi Blue Tigers easily chased down that total with 237/6, courtesy of Sanju Samson’s 121 off just 51 balls, supported by Muhammed Shanu’s two catches (39) and Mohammed Ashik’s 45 (not out) runs off just 18 balls.
Sanju Samson’s emphatic message for Kerala players:
Receiving the Player of the Match award, Samson said, “It’s not easy to lose a game in front of your home crowd. So I thank all the people who turned up in huge numbers.”
Sanju Samson’s quest for the Asia Cup
Since 2024, the 30-year-old has been a fantastic T20I opener for India. In just five innings against Bangladesh and South Africa, Samson scored three centuries. He was India’s top T20I batsman at the end of last year, scoring 436 runs at 43.60 average and 180.16 strike rate in 12 innings.
