'I can do Joker role for my country': Sanju Samson draws inspiration from Mohanlal

Sanju Samson open to play at any position. (BCCI Photo)

Sanju Samson has drawn inspiration from Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal Viswanathan as he adapts to a new role in India’s T20I setup. Ahead of India’s Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash with Bangladesh on Wednesday, Samson explained that like Mohanlal, he has embraced the idea that not every role has to be that of a ‘hero’, sometimes it can be the ‘villain’ or even the ‘joker,’ and he is prepared to take on each of them for the team.

In the run-up to the Asia Cup, Samson had cemented himself as India’s first-choice opener, smashing three centuries, the third-highest tally for the side during that period. However, with the selectors appointing Shubman Gill as vice-captain and reinstating him at the top of the order, Samson found his opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma dismantled. Instead of being dropped, the wicketkeeper-batter was reassigned to the middle order.

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When asked directly by former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar about his preferred batting position, Samson gave an answer that initially puzzled the panel but eventually struck the right chord.

“See, there’s our actor, Mohanlal, who got a big award from the Indian government. He has been an actor for 20 years. I have been playing for India for 10 years. So, I can’t come in and say I want to do the ‘hero’ role every time. I can do the villain role, and I can also do the Joker role for my country," Samson told Sony Sports Network.

Mohanlal was recently honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 71st National Film Awards, the highest recognition in Indian cinema.

Samson will now hope to mirror some of that success on the cricket field. In India’s opening two matches of the tournament against the UAE and Pakistan, he did not get a chance to bat. Against Oman, captain Suryakumar Yadav pushed himself down the order to promote Samson at number three, where the Rajasthan Royals skipper made 56 runs, though it was a scratchy knock. Returning to the middle order against Pakistan in Sunday’s game, he could only score 13 during the chase.

Despite the inconsistency, the team management has stood by him. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged that Samson is still getting accustomed to his new responsibilities. The bigger question remains how much longer the side will persist with this experiment.