The Indian selectors recently announced the squad for the Asia Cup 2025, and two wicketkeeper-batters, Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, found their place in the team. Samson has been picked as the first-choice wicketkeeper, while Jitesh has been included as the backup option.
Both players have made strong statements with their performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025), but their roles and styles are very different. Let’s compare their IPL numbers and understand why both earned a spot.
Batting Performances in IPL 2025
Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals)
Sanju Samson’s IPL 2025 campaign was affected by injury, which forced him to miss a few matches. Still, whenever he played, he made useful contributions for Rajasthan Royals. Batting in the top order, he ended up making 285 runs in 9 matches, with just 24 runs more than Jitesh Sharma, finishing the season with a strike rate of 140.69.
Despite the interruptions, Samson remained an important figure for RR and made 4,027 career IPL runs, underlining his experience as one of the most seasoned Indian wicketkeeper-batters.
Jitesh Sharma (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Jitesh stood out for RCB as a finisher, playing important quick-scoring knocks in the lower order. His standout moment came when he smashed 85 off 33 balls* in a record run chase of 228, playing one of the most explosive knocks of the season.
Across IPL 2025, Jitesh scored 261 runs in 11 innings, he maintained a strike rate of 176.35, much higher than Samson’s, highlighting his impact in the death overs. While he scored fewer total runs, his quick scoring often turned matches in RCB’s favor.
Wicketkeeping Record
Jitesh Sharma was among the best wicketkeepers of the season, finishing with 20 dismissals (19 catches, 1 stumping) in 15 matches, the highest by any keeper in IPL 2025.
Sanju Samson, though playing fewer matches (6 games as keeper), still managed 5 dismissals (4 catches, 1 stumping). His numbers were lower because he wasn’t behind the stumps in every match.
Style of Play
Sanju Samson provides stability at the top order, anchoring the innings and playing the role of a reliable run-getter. His leadership qualities and ability to play long innings make him a natural fit as India’s first-choice keeper.
Jitesh Sharma is a power-hitter and finisher, known for his fearless approach against pacers and spinners alike. His explosive strike rate makes him an ideal option for the lower-middle order, where quick runs are crucial.
IPL 2025 Stats: Samson vs Jitesh
| Category | Sanju Samson (RR) | Jitesh Sharma (RCB) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Runs (2025) | 285 Runs in 9 matches | 261 in 15 matches |
| Strike Rate | 141 | 176.35 |
| Best Knock | 66 off 37 balls vs SRH | 85* off 33 balls vs LSG |
| Wicketkeeping Dismissal | 5 (in 6 matches) | 20 (in 15 matches) |
| Asia Cup 2025 Role | First-choice keeper-batter | Backup keeper-finisher |
Sanju Samson vs Jitesh Sharma: Overall IPL Stats
Sanju Samson has been one of the most reliable batters in IPL history, with nearly 5000 runs across 177 matches. In contrast, Jitesh Sharma has shown promise as a finisher with a high strike rate but has struggled with consistency in his four seasons.
| Player | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanju Samson | 172 | 4,704 | 30.94 | 139.04 |
| Jitesh Sharma | 47 | 991 | 25.41 | 157.05 |
Jitesh’s strike rate highlights his impact role, while Samson’s numbers underline his consistency and experience.
Conclusion
- The IPL 2025 season showed the different strengths of Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma.
- Samson’s experience, strong performance and top-order batting earned him the first-choice wicketkeeper role.
- Jitesh’s fearless finishing ability and excellent wicketkeeping stats made him the perfect backup option.
Together, they provide India with a balanced wicketkeeping department, Samson for stability and experience, and Jitesh for explosive impact in crunch situations.
Written by Kinjal Walantra
