Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is quietly building a powerful case to be considered one of India’s finest T20I wicketkeeper-batters in multi-nation tournaments. The upcoming Asia Cup final against arch-rivals Pakistan presents a golden opportunity for him to carve his name into history books.
Throughout the current tournament, Samson has demonstrated impressive form, accumulating 108 runs across three innings. His average stands at 36, with a strike rate of 127.05, highlighted by a crucial half-century against Oman. What makes his performance even more notable is his incredible versatility; he has seamlessly adapted to various batting positions, featuring at numbers three, five, and even eight, proving his value regardless of where he slots into the lineup, even with top-order stalwarts like Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma present.
A significant milestone awaits Samson in the final: he needs just 64 more runs to surpass Rishabh Pant’s record for the highest individual score by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter in a T20I multi-nation tournament. Pant previously held this record with 171 runs across eight innings during the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, boasting a strike rate of 127.61 and a top score of 42. For historical context, MS Dhoni, during India’s triumphant 2007 ICC T20 World Cup campaign, scored 154 runs in six innings, averaging 30.8 with a best of 45, including a vital 36 in the semifinal against Australia.
Samson is also on the cusp of reaching 1,000 T20I career runs. He currently stands at 969 runs from 48 matches, maintaining a solid average of 26.18 and an impressive strike rate exceeding 149. His career boasts three centuries and three half-centuries, with a personal best of 111.
Samson’s power-hitting prowess has already rewritten certain records. Following India’s thrilling Super Over victory against Sri Lanka, he became India’s leading T20I wicketkeeper in terms of sixes, having dispatched 55 maximums in just 48 innings. This feat surpasses the legendary MS Dhoni, who hit 52 sixes in 85 innings. Rishabh Pant is third on this list with 44 sixes in 66 innings, followed by Ishan Kishan with 36 in 32 innings.
Even when batting lower down the order in this Asia Cup, Samson has consistently showcased his destructive batting. His crucial knock of 39 from the number five position in the last game against Sri Lanka was instrumental, featuring towering sixes over the sight-screen and cow corner off bowlers like Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka, which helped India post a formidable total of 202 for 5.
Samson’s remarkable adaptability, consistent performance, and exceptional ability to clear the ropes solidify his position as one of India’s most explosive wicketkeepers in T20 cricket. A significant performance in the Asia Cup final would not only earn him personal accolades but also firmly establish his legacy among India’s top-tier wicketkeeper-batters in prestigious multi-nation tournaments.