Following India’s exhilarating victory in the Asia Cup 2025, star batsman Suryakumar Yadav shared insights into his teammate Sanju Samson’s transformed role during the tournament. In a revealing interview with journalist Vimal Kumar, Yadav spoke candidly about the doubts surrounding Samson’s place in the squad, especially with the emergence of talented players like Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma.
“Initially, many believed that with Shubman and Jitesh joining the team, Sanju might not get an opportunity to open or even secure a spot,” Suryakumar explained. “However, the idea of him not playing never crossed my mind. Right from our very first practice session, Gautam Gambhir and I were discussing him behind the nets. Gautam highlighted how exceptionally well Sanju had performed in his last 10-15 T20 matches.”
Yadav further elaborated on the conversation: “We simply conveyed to him that his batting position might shift, and he might face fewer deliveries, but his impact on the game had to remain consistent. Whenever he stepped out to bat, his primary focus should be on maximizing his contribution for the team’s benefit.”
Sanju Samson wholeheartedly embraced this challenge and emphatically proved his value. He emerged as India’s third-highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup, a testament to his consistent contributions, ranking only behind Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma. His stellar performances were recently acknowledged with the prestigious CEAT T20 Batter of the Year award.
During the CEAT Awards ceremony, Sanju reflected on his personal journey in international cricket, describing it as an emotional experience.
“For someone like me, who diligently worked in silence, with patience, and continuously invested in physical and mental preparation amidst numerous challenges and obstacles, while always focusing on the process rather than external distractions – after a decade-long wait, when the opportunity finally arrived, I was fortunate enough to score three match-winning centuries across five T20 international matches,” Samson shared.
He also emphasized his profound commitment to the Indian national team. “When you proudly don that Indian jersey, I believe you cannot refuse any task. I have dedicated immense effort to earn this jersey and, more importantly, to maintain my presence within that esteemed dressing room. I take immense pride in performing any duty for my country. Therefore, even if they require me to bat at number nine or contribute with some left-arm spin, I would gladly do so,” he concluded, highlighting his ultimate team-first approach.