Sanju Samson is quietly making a strong case to be considered one of India’s greatest T20I wicketkeeper-batters in multi-nation tournaments, and the upcoming Asia Cup final against Pakistan presents him with a golden opportunity to etch his name in history.
Throughout the tournament, Samson has accumulated 108 runs across three innings, maintaining an impressive average of 36 and a strike rate of 127.05. This includes a crucial half-century against Oman. What stands out is his remarkable adaptability; despite primarily batting in the middle order (at numbers three, five, and eight), he has proven his ability to perform in any position, even when established openers like India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma are at the top.
A significant milestone awaits Samson: if he scores just 64 more runs in the final, he will surpass Rishabh Pant’s record for the highest T20I multi-nation tournament run tally by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter. Pant previously held this record with 171 runs in eight innings during the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, boasting a strike rate of 127.61 and a top score of 42. Before Pant, MS Dhoni set an impressive benchmark during India’s victorious 2007 ICC T20 World Cup campaign, scoring 154 runs in six innings at an average of 30.8, with a best of 45 and a vital 36 in the semifinal against Australia.
Samson is also on the cusp of reaching 1,000 T20I runs, currently standing at 969 runs from 48 matches. His T20I career statistics highlight his explosive potential, with an average of 26.18 and a strike rate exceeding 149, including three centuries and three fifties, with a personal best of 111.
Beyond his run-scoring, Samson has been rewriting record books with his powerful hitting. Following India’s dramatic Super Over victory against Sri Lanka, he officially became India’s leading T20I wicketkeeper in terms of sixes, having struck 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, while Ishan Kishan has 36 in 32 innings.
Even though he’s often played in the middle order during this Asia Cup, Samson has consistently showcased his destructive batting prowess. In the recent game against Sri Lanka, he played a crucial knock of 39 runs from the No. 5 position, dispatching towering sixes over the sight-screen and cow corner against bowlers like Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka. These impactful contributions were instrumental in helping India post a formidable total of 202 for 5.
Samson’s remarkable adaptability, consistent performance, and exceptional ability to clear the ropes firmly establish him as one of India’s most dynamic wicketkeepers in T20 cricket. Should he deliver another impactful performance in the Asia Cup final, he will not only achieve significant personal milestones but also further solidify his reputation alongside India’s all-time top-performing wicketkeeper-batters in multi-nation tournaments.