NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson has sent a timely reminder to the Indian team management that ignoring him in the Asia Cup playing XI might prove costly. The wicketkeeper-batter, turning out for Kochi Blue Tigers in the Kerala Cricket League, made a mockery of Aries Kollam Sailors' bowlers with his blitzkrieg in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Samson took the opposition bowlers to the cleaners, clobbering 14 fours and 7 sixes in his blistering 121-run knock off just 51 balls, which helped Kochi chase down a mammoth 237-run target against Aries Kollam Sailors off the very last delivery.

With Shubman Gill returning to the T20 fold for the first time since July 2024, Samson's place in the side looks uncertain. However, the Kerala batter produced a strong comeback after struggling a day earlier, when he managed only 13 runs off 22 balls while batting lower down the order.

After winning the Player of the Match award, Samson thanked the home crowd: "It's not easy to lose a game in front of your home crowd. So I thank all the people who turned up in huge numbers."

Samson lauded the young local talent and expressed his delight at the depth Kerala cricket has to offer for the future.

“To be very honest, I'm not much aware of the boys. But as much as I'm spending time with them, I'm getting very excited. Very exciting talent in the team. It's a bit shocking to see we have so much talent in Kerala cricket. I request that we have to put in some special eyes in the local games going on, especially all the players. In the next one or two years, we should see one more guy playing for the country. And I can see that happening. With this talent, I don’t think that we are much far away."

Ashik seals it for Kochi Blue Tigers

Although Sanju departed in the 19th over with 31 runs still required, the drama was far from over. Youngster Muhammad Ashik emerged as the hero, smashing a six off the final ball to seal a record KCL chase. The four-wicket win not only lifted Kochi Blue Tigers to the top of the table but also underlined Sanju's pivotal role in setting up the victory.