“Sanju Samson is flexible enough” - Ralphi Gomez says Kerala batter ready for middle order duties in Asia Cup 2025

Sanju Samson was named in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad, but there are questions over his inclusion in the Indian XI. This is due to Shubman Gill being chosen as well and named vice-captain of the Indian T20I team.

BCCI selector Ajit Agarkar also revealed that Sanju Samson was only opening for the Indian team as Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal were not available. And despite scoring three centuries in one year in 2024, Sanju Samson has not been confirmed a berth in the Indian XI in the Asia Cup 2025.

To prep for this, Samson has begun batting in the middle order for his team in the ongoing Kerala Cricket League 2025. And despite a couple of failures, Samson has hammered a century and a score in the 80s in two consecutive matches.

“He is very confident”—Ralphi Gomez on Sanju Samson in the middle order for the Indian team.

Former Kerala and Pondicherry all-rounder Raiphi Gomez has stated that Sanju Samson is very confident and flexible and will do great in the middle order as well if given a chance in the Indian team.

“Being a professional and internationally established player, Sanju is flexible enough to make the adjustments if he has to bat down the order. His flexibility is what guides him, and he is very confident about his abilities,” Gomez told the Telegraph.

Samson, representing Kochi Blue Tigers in the KCL, has adapted well to the middle-order role. He may be able to play the role of a finisher, where he will have the opportunity to express himself just as well as he does as an opener, if he bats lower in the order.

Samson needs to perform well in this Asia Cup and solidify his status as the team's starting keeper-batsman in Twenty20 Internationals, especially because Jitesh Sharma has made an impression for Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season.

“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. 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.

Following his unbeaten 121 off 54 balls on Sunday, Samson followed it up with a 46-ball 89 on Tuesday, readying himself for the tougher clashes ahead.

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