The Asia Cup 2025 begins in eight days and India’s campaign starts against UAE a day later. As the competition nears, one man making a strong case for himself at domestic level is Sanju Samson. Playing for the Kochi Blue Tigers, the 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter slammed 83 runs from just 41 balls and that included as many as nine sixes.

The right-handed Samson also hit two fours as his side defeated Alleppey Ripples pretty easily. He has been in great form during the tournament which is good news for India ahead of Asia Cup 2025. It is also a signal that he deserves to be in the playing XI even if Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill both play. Gill is vice-captain so will certainly play. Abhishek has been in great form as well.

© X/ICC

For Samson, this was a fourth straight score over 50. In the previous three innings he made 121 off 51, 89 in 46 and 62 from 37. Sadly, he may not get the role of the opener despite his good show in KCL 2025. However, this is a clear message to coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav that Samson deserves a place in the top order.

With 861 runs in 38 T20I innings at an average of 25.32 and strike rate of 152.39, Samson has made three 100s and two 50s with a personal best of 111. He is certainly tailormade for this format. He turns 31 this year so Samson is no longer a youngster in the side.

Sanju Samson’s sixes resound like thunder across the Greenfield International Stadium ⚡️#KCLSeason2 #KCL2025 pic.twitter.com/liOQ6b5ftF

— Kerala Cricket League (@KCL_t20) August 31, 2025

Asia Cup 2025 is Samson’s first edition of the tournament and the keeper-batter will look to make a good impression and build on his chances of playing in the T20 World Cup in 2026. Samson was part of the squad that won the 2024 edition but did not play a single game. He will hope to change that and help India retain the title.

India are the defending champions having won the 2023 edition. This is only the third time the Asia Cup is being played in the T20I format. India won the first-ever in 2016. MS Dhoni is the only skipper to win the title in both formats. India have won eight out of the overall 16 editions that have taken place. They are the only ones to win three straight titles in 1988, 1990-91 and 1995.