The selection of Team India’s playing eleven for the 2025 Asia Cup is under scrutiny, particularly concerning whether Shubman Gill will take over the opening position from Sanju Samson. Samson has answered these questions with a stunning display in the Kerala Cricket League. The star wicketkeeper-batsman, playing for Kochi Blue Tigers under his brother Sali Samson’s captaincy, unleashed a powerful batting performance, scoring a remarkable century.
The match was played in Thiruvananthapuram, where Kochi was set a formidable target of 237 runs against Kollam Sailors. To achieve a fast start, Samson opened the innings. This move followed his experiment in the middle order during the previous two matches. His spot as an opener for the Asia Cup was not yet confirmed, hence the changes. Samson, after an unsuccessful performance in the middle order, was determined to prove his capabilities.
Samson, who has been opening for India for the past year, began by hitting boundaries from the very first ball. He hit four consecutive boundaries in the third over. He followed up with three fours and a six in the fourth over, reaching his half-century in just 16 balls. Samson continued his aggressive batting, helping his team reach 100 runs within the powerplay. He completed his explosive century in the 14th over, achieving it in only 42 balls. The innings consisted of 13 fours and 5 sixes, making him the second batsman to score a century in the league this season.