Sanju Samson has opened up about the challenges of his shifting role in India’s batting lineup during the Asia Cup 2025, saying he needs to be “a Joker, a villain” to adapt to the team’s requirements.
The wicketkeeper-batter has opened in all 17 T20I matches India played since winning the World Cup last June, scoring 487 runs at a strike rate of 171.47, including three centuries. Yet, despite this consistency, Samson has not been deployed as a regular opener in the Asia Cup. Instead, he has had to adapt to multiple positions across India’s XI in the tournament.
During India’s second Super Four match against Bangladesh, Sanjay Manjrekar questioned Samson on the team management’s decision to keep him away from his favored opening slot. Samson responded by citing the example of Kerala superstar Mohanlal, who has successfully played diverse roles in cinema for decades.
He said: “Recently, our Lalettan – Mohanlal, received a big award for his decades of acting. He didn’t always play the hero. Sometimes he was a villain, sometimes a joker. Similarly, I cannot restrict myself to just one batting role. I have to be versatile. Why can’t I be a good villain for the team if needed?”
In the Asia Cup so far, Samson batted at No. 3 against Oman and scored 56 runs, then played at No. 5 versus Pakistan. Against Bangladesh, he was held back to No. 8, which sparked criticism, especially after India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had earlier said the team was backing Samson as their No. 5 option.
Ten Doeschate explained: “Sanju has had two decent chances, and he’s figuring out the role at No. 5. We still believe he’s the right man for that job and we’re confident he’ll succeed.”
The constant shuffle has left Samson without a fixed position, but his statement reflects his determination to embrace the demands of the team, even if it means stepping outside his comfort zone.