Sanju Samson’s remarkable run of form in the Kerala Cricket League continued on Tuesday as he produced yet another explosive knock, headlined by a rare moment of scoring 13 runs off a single delivery. Facing Thrissur Titans’ Sijomon in the fifth over, Samson first drilled the fourth ball for a stunning six. When the bowler repeated the delivery due to a no-ball, Samson dispatched it over deep mid-wicket for six on the free-hit, collecting 13 runs from what went into the scorebook as one delivery. The 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter eventually smashed 89 off 46 balls, striking four boundaries and nine towering sixes at a strike rate of nearly 200 while opening for Kochi Blue Tigers alongside Vinoop Manoharan. This latest effort comes just two days after Samson hammered 121 off 51 balls in a successful chase of 236, an innings where he reached fifty in 16 balls and completed his century in 42. Having also batted at No. 6 earlier in the tournament, Samson has showcased adaptability alongside his natural attacking game. His run of good form has reignited the debate around India’s playing XI for the Asia Cup, which begins on September 9. Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has backed his inclusion. “Shubman is back in the team, I’m sure he is most likely to open with Abhishek Sharma. Personally, I would like to see Sanju Samson in the team because he has done really well. He is a very confident guy, a very good team man, and that is very important,” Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
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Should Sanju Samson be included in India’s playing XI for the Asia Cup?
However, Aakash Chopra offered a contrasting view. “With Shubman Gill’s return, Sanju Samson’s fate has more or less been sealed. He will not feature in the playing XI now. You will not drop Tilak Varma or Hardik Pandya, which means Samson sits out and Jitesh Sharma will likely get the nod again,” Chopra remarked.With his unmissable form ahead of the Asia Cup, the debate as to whether he will be in the playing XI continues to rage on.
