Is Sanju Samson's opening slot at risk? The question has started to float ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. Today (August 23, 2025), the keeper-batter came to bat at the number 5 position for Kochi Blue Tigers against Alleppey Ripples during a Kerala Cricket League (KCL) match.

Samson, mostly known as an opener, remained ineffective in the new role in the middle order, as the right-handed batter could add only 13 runs off 22 balls. Rather than his well-known batting approach, Sanju played a sluggish innings, without finding the rope at least once.

The inclusion of Shubman Gill in the Asia Cup 2025 is considered a vital call from the BCCI selectors, as the batsman is another natural opener in the squad along with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Shubman's presence in the squad raised a question among cricket fans: will the team management be going to push Sanju in the middle order to allow Gill to open the innings for India?

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An unusual Sanju Samson before Asia Cup 2025

The question sparked again when Samson walked into the field for Kochi Blue Tigers as the number 5 batter. Because of his batting credibility, the keeper-batter is always surrounded by high hopes. Throughout his professional cricket career, he has had to deal with a lack of consistency. Ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, his unimpressive performance as a middle-order batsman can be a reason to raise concerns again. The top-order batter was not up to the mark during the previous few T20Is with Team India. 

Sanju Samson's last 5 T20Is:

26 vs England, Eden Gardens 

5 vs.l England, Chennai 

3 vs England, Rajkot 

1 vs England, Pune 

16 vs England vs Wankhede