When Sanju Samson connects with the ball, it makes a distinct sound a crisp pop, not just a thwack. It’s the kind of sound that makes commentators take notice and fans fall into stunned silence. For almost ten years, though, Sanju Samson has been the almost guy in Indian cricket. He’s often in the squad but seldom plays. He gets one shot to prove himself, while others get many more chances. Now, in late 2025, it’s obvious: Sanju Samson isn’t just unlucky he’s not being used the right way. Here’s why.
The most prominent argument critics use against Samson is that he is inconsistent. He scores a 100 and then three ducks, they say.
Let’s be real for a second. Consistency is a product of security.
Players like Shubman Gill or Rishabh Pant were given long ropes. They were allowed to fail for ten games because they knew they would play the eleventh. Samson has never had that luxury. When you know that one bad shot will see you benched for the next three series, you don’t play your natural game. You play with the fear of failure.
Despite this, look at his impact. When he does click like his maiden ODI century against South Africa in Paarl (2023) or his recent IPL exploits he wins matches single-handedly. He doesn’t just accumulate runs; he destroys the opposition's morale.
Imagine being a Specialist Surgeon, but every day your hospital asks you to do a different job. On Monday, you are a surgeon, on Tuesday, you are a GP, on Wednesday, you are running the ER. You’d never settle, right?
That is Sanju’s career.
In the IPL, he is a devastating No. 3, controlling the game for the Rajasthan Royals.
You cannot take a player whose most significant strength is pacing an inning from the top and ask him to slog from ball one at No. 6. It is a fundamental misuse of his skill set. By forcing him to plug holes rather than building a team around his strengths, India has turned a Ferrari into a cargo truck.
What makes this even more baffling is his cricket brain. As the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, Samson has shown maturity well beyond his years. He understands the game, manages bowlers well, and stays calm under pressure. Yet, in the Indian setup, he is treated purely as a backup batter. India is currently in a transition phase, looking for leadership after the Rohit Sharma era. Ignoring a player with proven captaincy credentials someone who has led a franchise to an IPL final seems like a wasted opportunity to groom a senior leader.
Sanju’s biggest misfortune is existing in the same era as Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Ishan Kishan.
Sanju often falls through the cracks, not because he is worse, but because he doesn't have a specific "tag" attached to him other than talented right-hander. But in T20 cricket, specifically, Samson’s ability to hit spin against the turn is superior to almost anyone else on that list. In a format governed by middle-overs dominance, benching your best spin-hitter is a tactical error.
Sanju Samson is now in his 30s. These are supposed to be his peak years.
He shouldn't be traveling with the team carrying drinks. He should be batting at No. 3 or No. 4 consistently, with the license to fail. If India cannot find a way to fit him into the XI, they are wasting one of the most naturally gifted stroke-makers the country has ever produced.
History will likely look back at Sanju Samson in one of two ways: either as the late bloomer who finally conquered the world, or as the greatest "what if" of Indian cricket. Right now, sadly, we are trending toward the latter.
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