Sanju Samson: The IPL Star India Can’t Fully Trust — Yet

Sanju Samson has never lacked talent. The shot-making is audacious, the technique elegant, and the timing almost genetic. For over a decade, the IPL has been his canvas. And in 2025, he was once again in fine touch — until injury intervened. Before being ruled out midway through the tournament, he racked up 285 runs at a strike rate of 140, reminding everyone why Rajasthan Royals trust him as both captain and cornerstone.

But as the IPL wrapped up, and chatter inevitably turned to India’s T20 World Cup plans, Samson's name surfaced with a familiar caveat:

"Yes, but..."

Yes, he performs. Yes, he leads well. But can we trust him in blue?

It’s a narrative Samson can’t seem to shake. With every flowing cover drive in pink, questions return in navy: Why hasn’t it translated to India? Is he a domestic giant but an international question mark? After another IPL filled with glimpses and grit, the conversation around Samson hasn’t changed — but it’s grown louder. And increasingly difficult to ignore.

1. IPL 2025: A Campaign of Momentum and Misfortune

Before injury cut it short, Samson’s 2025 season was tracking as one of his most poised. Nine matches, 285 runs, an average north of 35, and a brisk strike rate of 140.4 — these aren’t headlining numbers, but they reflect a player in control. His innings weren’t built on chaos but calculation — knowing when to anchor and when to accelerate.

His standout performance came against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he anchored a tricky chase with a fluent 66 off 38 balls, peppered with his trademark elegance over extra cover and whip off the pads. It wasn’t explosive — it was clinical. He looked like a captain in form, leading not just with the bat but with composure.

But just as RR’s playoff hopes began tightening, Samson was ruled out with a muscle strain. The team unraveled. The middle order collapsed in his absence. And once again, Samson exited an IPL season midway, stirring the long-standing concern around his fitness durability.

This campaign wasn’t just a statistical contribution — it was a statement of calm maturity. And its abrupt ending only made his value to RR more glaring.

2. Rajasthan Royals Under Samson: Tactical Clarity or Tactical Chaos?

Samson’s tenure as Rajasthan Royals captain has always split opinion. Some call him cool-headed; others say passive. In 2025, the debate only deepened. RR entered the season with a solid squad: a world-class top order, decent finishers, and a promising bowling attack. But they finished ninth — a steep drop from their playoff appearance in 2024.

The problem wasn’t personnel. It was execution. And here, Samson’s leadership invites scrutiny.

He tinkered relentlessly. Promoting Riyan Parag to No. 3. Giving R. Ashwin the new ball. Experimenting with Jurel as keeper while retaining captaincy himself. At times, it looked brave. At others, it seemed confused. The side lacked rhythm, and while Samson did deliver with the bat, his decision-making off it raised eyebrows.

It’s also worth noting that the squad seemed to lean too heavily on his presence. Without Samson, the team appeared emotionally undercooked. That, too, is a reflection of leadership — both its strength and its limits.

So, was Samson tactically sound? Occasionally. Inspirational? Perhaps not enough. In 2025, he looked more like a dependable player than a dominant leader — and that distinction matters.

3. A History of IPL Consistency

Whatever you think of his international credentials, Sanju Samson’s IPL record demands respect. Since debuting in 2013, he’s compiled over 4,700 runs — a feat matched by only a handful of Indian batters. But what sets Samson apart isn’t just the volume. It’s the versatility.

He’s opened, batted at No. 3, and even slipped down the order when team combinations required. He’s played the flamboyant aggressor and the steady hand. While he’s always carried the reputation of being streaky, recent seasons have shown a player growing into consistency.

In 2021, he scored 484 runs. In 2022, 458. In 2024, he led RR to third place with 450+ again. Unlike many domestic players who ride one great season, Samson has built a body of work. He’s no longer just potential — he’s production.

And yet, this reliability at franchise level continues to exist in a vacuum. It wins him loyalty from the Royals. It wins applause from IPL followers. But not, it seems, sustained faith from Indian selectors. Which raises the question: what more must he do?

4. India Stints: Talent Without Tenure

Samson’s international journey resembles a door that never quite swings open. Despite being around the Indian setup since 2015, he has featured in only a handful of matches across formats. When given chances, his flashes have been electric — a 77* against Ireland in 2022, and a run of solid middle-order innings in 2023 and 2024. Yet, the starts have rarely led to extended stays.

Part of the problem has been timing. Whenever Samson found form, the national team seemed to be spoilt for options. The emergence of Rishabh Pant, the reinvention of KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper-batter, the consistency of Ishan Kishan — all made the Indian middle-order a competitive arena. In such an environment, inconsistency — or injury — is a death sentence for momentum.

Samson's skill set is undeniable: a 360-degree batter with the ability to accelerate against both spin and pace, a technically sound player against swing, and a part-time keeper. But selectors seem wary of committing to him — perhaps due to his perceived volatility or an inability to dominate against top-tier bowling in international fixtures.

His India stats are respectable, not remarkable. But perhaps that’s the most damning fact. For someone with his range and IPL experience, respectable feels underwhelming.

5. The Trust Gap: National Selectors vs Franchise Faith

Rajasthan Royals have made Sanju Samson their identity. Since 2021, they’ve built a core around his leadership, handed him the responsibility of guiding emerging players, and retained him as captain season after season — a role franchises don’t give lightly.

Contrast that with the Indian selectors’ approach, and the trust gap is stark. Despite strong IPL campaigns and decent international cameos, Samson has often been relegated to “backup” status — called up when others are unavailable, benched during key series, and quietly dropped without explanation.

What explains the disparity? It may lie in perceived temperament. Samson, for all his poise, has occasionally given the impression of being a touch too laid-back. In the high-pressure cauldron of international cricket, where expectations exceed logic, this is often misread as lack of hunger.

Or perhaps it's just that in Indian cricket — more than any other — narrative matters. When you succeed can be as important as how often. And Samson, frustratingly, has often hit form when selectors had already made up their minds.

6. The Bigger Picture: Late Bloomer or Lost Opportunity?

At 30, Sanju Samson is no longer a rising star. He’s in his prime — or possibly on the tail end of it. And that changes the conversation. Is he a late bloomer still waiting for the right run, or has Indian cricket already moved on?

There are precedents for players flourishing later in their careers — Ajinkya Rahane’s Test revival, Dinesh Karthik’s T20 comeback — but they’ve come with either radical reinvention or a moment of serendipity. For Samson, that moment hasn’t arrived.

Yet, if IPL 2025 showed anything, it’s that he’s far from finished. His shot selection has matured, his batting now carries a sense of control, and his leadership — while imperfect — commands dressing room respect. In a T20 landscape driven by match-ups and strike rates, he remains a valuable asset.

If India are looking for experience without baggage, flexibility without fuss, and a batter who can adapt across roles, Samson still ticks many boxes.

But the clock is ticking.

Conclusion: Sanju Samson and the Burden of Being Unfinished

Sanju Samson’s IPL record demands applause. His technique draws admiration. His numbers, while not elite, are more consistent than most. Yet in 2025, as another IPL came and went, he found himself once again in a curious limbo — celebrated by fans, cherished by a franchise, but kept at arm’s length by the national setup.

There’s a particular kind of frustration in watching a player who seems ready — but never quite gets the nod. That has been Samson’s fate for nearly a decade. Every IPL season begins with hope. Every international window ends with hesitation.

Is it fair? Probably not. But Indian cricket has always demanded more than just performance. It demands storylines, moments, timing, politics — and perhaps, a bit of luck. Samson has had performance. What he’s missed is the rest.

Still, his journey is far from over. If anything, IPL 2025 showed us that Sanju Samson isn’t a fading light. He’s a spark waiting for the right match to catch fire.

India may not fully trust him yet. But sooner or later, they may have no choice.