Just a day earlier, Sanju Samson, batting at number 6, scored only 13 runs in 22 balls, which disappointed everyone a bit. But he made a comeback very quickly in a fantastic way. In the very next innings, he opened the innings and scored a blistering knock of 121 runs off 51 balls. Thanks to this innings, his team Kochi Blue Tigers easily achieved the big target of 237 runs.
On August 26, he smashed 89 runs off 46 balls, hitting six sixes in his knock.
The special thing about this brilliant century was that when Sanju completed his century, his elder brother Salay Samson, who is also the captain of this team, was present with him at the crease. Both the brothers hugged each other on the field and made this moment special. Salay looked very happy to see this innings of his younger brother.
This innings of Sanju was also the answer to the questions being raised about his form. Before the Asia Cup 2025, there were many discussions about Sanju's batting. But in this 51-ball innings, he smashed 14 fours and 7 sixes to show that he is still in full form and is a strong contender for opening in India's T20 team.
In the last few months, Sanju has done well while opening in T20 cricket for India. In the year 2024, he scored three T20 International centuries, the most by any Indian player in a calendar year.
However, after the return of Shubman Gill in the Asia Cup and being made the vice-captain, the discussion has intensified about whether Sanju Samson will get a place in the playing XI or not. On the other hand, wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma is also in great form. He performed brilliantly for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2025, making team selection even more difficult.
As far as the Kerala Cricket League is concerned, the Kochi Blue Tigers bowled first in this match. The opposing team had scored a big score of 237 runs. But with the support of Sanju's century and the rest of the batsmen, Kochi achieved this target. The match became a bit exciting in the last over, but the team won in the end.
When Sanju came on the field, he adopted an aggressive style from the beginning. He read every ball well and took full advantage of the opportunity. His timing and shot selection were excellent. The audience was very excited to see his batting, and there was applause on every four and six.
This innings was not just a victory but also a strong message. Sanju Samson has shown that he is still fully prepared to maintain his place in the Indian team. His confidence, experience, and aggression prove that it would be wrong to take him lightly.
Sanju not only scored runs on the field, but with his calm nature and hard work, he showed how a player can make a comeback even after failure. After his century, there was a flood of praise from fans on social media as well.
The Asia Cup is going to start in the next few weeks, and if Sanju remains in this form, he can prove to be an important player for the Indian team. The team management will also be forced to think about whether to give him a chance in the playing eleven or not.
This innings of Sanju Samson was not just a game but a return of confidence. He showed that when he is in rhythm, he can destroy any bowling attack.