Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has expressed his thoughts on Sanju Samson’s performance, suggesting that he could potentially open the innings for Rajasthan Royals alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. This statement comes after Samson’s remarkable century against South Africa on November 8 at Kingsmead, where he showcased his powerful backfoot play and hitting abilities in challenging conditions.
Kaif, through his social media, highlighted Samson’s impressive knock in Durban, where he scored a quick century and displayed his ability to dominate in South African conditions. Kaif even mentioned that with Samson in such strong form, Rajasthan Royals may not feel the need to rely on Jos Buttler as an opener, suggesting that Samson could anchor the innings and form a dynamic partnership with Jaiswal. This opening combination could mirror the approach of SunRisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, giving Rajasthan a similar aggressive and balanced start.
In his recent performances, Samson has joined an elite group of Indian players with multiple T20I centuries, having struck back-to-back hundreds, the first Indian to do so. He scored a blistering 111 off 47 balls against Bangladesh in Hyderabad and followed it up with another century against South Africa in Durban. His latest hundred featured 7 fours and 9 sixes, putting pressure on the South African bowlers from the beginning and helping India post a strong start with 56 runs in the powerplay.
Samson’s recent form not only places him among notable Indian T20I players, alongside Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul, but also makes a strong case for his role as an opener in future IPL seasons. With this level of performance, fans could indeed look forward to an exciting Jaiswal-Samson opening duo for Rajasthan Royals in 2025, as Kaif suggests.
