Indian batter Sanju Samson’s mentor-cum-coach Raiphi Gomez has revealed that the Kerala batter is ready to bat at number six in the Asia Cup. After Shubman Gill was appointed as the vice-captain in the Asia Cup, many experts feel it would be difficult for Samson to break into the playing XI.
Samson had done a decent job while opening the innings with Abhishek Sharma but he could only manage 51 runs in five T20Is against England in 2025 while playing at home. The flamboyant batter was troubled by short-pitched deliveries.
But, in the ongoing Kerala Cricket League, Samson was slotted to bat in the middle order for Kochi Blue Tigers. However, the wicket-keeper bat returned to the opening slot while leading the franchise. Samson has been in terrific form, scoring 223 runs in three innings at an average of 74.33 and a strike rate of 187.39 in the state league tournament.
“Being a professional and internationally established player, Sanju is flexible enough to make the adjustments if he has to bat down the order.
“His flexibility is what guides him, and he is very confident about his abilities,” former Kerala and Pondicherry all-rounder Raiphi Gomez, also Samson’s mentor-cum-coach, told The Telegraph.
Gomez said Samson is not feeling any kind of pressure to retain his place in the national team and his aim is to keep getting better as a batter.
“Has Sanju said anything about being under pressure? No. So, it’s all outside noise, and we are not really concerned about what is being said outside,” Gomez, who knows Samson since the latter was only 15 and has also played in the IPL for the now-defunct Kochi and Pune franchises, pointed out.
“Our focus is on making sure Sanju keeps getting better with the bat. He is only concerned about the job he needs to do for India.”
“What happened in the England T20Is is part and parcel of the game, which every cricketer goes through. Then, after the injury during the IPL, he spent necessary time at the (BCCI) Centre of Excellence to regain fitness, and now, he appears well placed rhythm-wise, playing in these KCL matches,” Samson’s mentor-cum-coach emphasised.
India would begin their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10.
