NEW DELHI: Team India’s T20I captain
Suryakumar Yadav sparked laughter and cheers in Dubai with a witty one-liner aimed at
Sanju Samson during the team’s practice session ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!As fans gathered outside the ICC Academy on Saturday, several voices rang out chanting “Samson, Samson” as the Kerala cricketer made his way out alongside teammates. Seizing the moment, Suryakumar playfully remarked, “Local boy! Sanju Samson from Trivandrum.”
The quip immediately drew smiles, with Samson acknowledging the crowd by shaking hands, signing autographs, and posing for selfies.
WATCH:Samson, who remains in contention for an opening spot alongside vice-captain
Shubman Gill and the in-form
Abhishek Sharma, has enjoyed strong fan backing in the UAE. His T20I numbers as an opener add weight to his claim — 522 runs in 17 innings at an average of 32.63 and a strike rate of 178.77. With Jitesh Sharma also part of the squad as a keeping option, Samson’s role in the XI remains a key talking point.
The defending champions have been training intensely for the multi-nation event, which begins on September 9 with India’s opener against hosts UAE scheduled for the next day. They next face arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14 before concluding the group stage against Oman on September 19. Day 2 of nets saw the batters particularly focused on clearing the ropes, with both Samson and Abhishek Sharma peppering the stands.
Adding to the buzz, the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled
the official team jersey on Sunday through a high-energy video montage. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav set the tone with, “The title of Asian champions,” followed by Samson declaring, “It’s not something we take lightly.” Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh added their voices, underscoring the pride, honour, and responsibility of defending the crown.
The montage, captioned “The reigning champions are back!”, has set the mood for India’s title defense. Between light-hearted moments like Surya’s “local boy” quip and the serious intensity of nets, India’s camp in Dubai reflects both the camaraderie and determination of a champion outfit.
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