Sanju Samson vs Pakistan — The Story So Far. Over the years, Sanju Samson has taken on the challenge of facing Pakistan in limited-overs cricket. While opportunities have been sparse, his recent outings — including the Asia Cup 2025 Final — give us clearer insight into how he has performed under pressure. In particular, his performances in T20Is and at the Dubai Stadium stand out.
T20I Encounters – Samson vs Pakistan
Till the latest match in September 2025, Samson has played two innings against Pakistan in T20Is. His record is still developing but reflects his role in India’s middle order during pressure situations.
Match-by-Match Snapshot
| Date | Venue | Batting Position | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sept 2025 | Dubai | Did Not Bat | — | — | — | — |
| 21 Sept 2025 | Dubai | No. 5 | 13 | 17 | 76.47 | b Haris Rauf |
| 28 Sept 2025 (Final) | Dubai | No. 5 | 24 | 21 | 114.29 | c Sahibzada Farhan b Abrar Ahmed |
- In his first T20I vs Pakistan (14 Sept 2025), Samson did not get a chance to bat.
- In the second outing (21 Sept), he scored 13 off 17.
- In the Asia Cup 2025 Final, he contributed a valuable 24 off 21 during India’s chase of 147.
So far, Samson has scored 37 runs in 2 innings against Pakistan, with an average of 18.50.
What This Suggests
- Samson’s opportunities vs Pakistan in T20Is have been limited but important.
- His knock in the Asia Cup Final showed his ability to handle pressure situations.
- As a middle-order batter, his role has been to stabilize the innings rather than play aggressive cameos.
ODI Record vs Pakistan
To date, Sanju Samson has not played an ODI against Pakistan. Therefore, there is no head-to-head data available in the 50-over format. His T20I performances remain the primary reference for now.
Dubai Stadium: Samson’s Pakistan Record
All of Samson’s encounters against Pakistan have come at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, including the high-pressure Asia Cup Final.
- 14 Sept 2025 – Did Not Bat
- 21 Sept 2025 – 13 (17)
- 28 Sept 2025 – 24 (21) in Asia Cup Final
Dubai’s slower pitch and large boundaries often demand controlled batting, and Samson’s approach in the final reflected a measured innings suited to the conditions.
Strengths & Challenges
Strengths:
- Calm temperament in high-pressure India–Pakistan matches.
- Ability to rotate strike and support key partnerships during chases.
- Proved useful in a major tournament final situation.
Challenges:
- Yet to register a big score against Pakistan.
- Limited innings mean fewer opportunities to build a strong head-to-head record.
- Converting starts into match-defining knocks will be key going forward.
What’s Next: What to Watch For
- More opportunities vs Pakistan — Future ICC events could give Samson more chances to improve his record.
- Dubai familiarity — With all innings coming here, this venue could become important for his confidence in this rivalry.
- Transition to ODIs — Once he features in an ODI vs Pakistan, format comparisons will become relevant.
- Knock-out stage impact — His role in the Asia Cup Final suggests he could be trusted in future high-pressure games.
Sanju Samson’s record vs Pakistan is still developing, but his contribution in the Asia Cup 2025 Final showed that he can play a supporting role in big matches. With more opportunities, he has the potential to turn these steady starts into impactful performances in one of cricket’s biggest rivalries.
