Sanju Samson on Virat Kohli: 'Very, very fortunate' to have him in Indian cricket
Synopsis
Sanju Samson's pre-match tribute to Virat Kohli at the Asian Games says as much about Indian cricket's culture as it does about one man's numbers. Days after Kohli became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to cross 15,000 ODI runs, his teammates are still talking about him — even when he is not in the room.
Key Takeaways
Sanju Samson praised Virat Kohli on 30 September , calling the team 'very, very fortunate' to have him ahead of India's Asian Games semi-final in Nisshin .
Kohli scored an unbeaten 139 against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram , helping India win by eight wickets .
Kohli became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to surpass 15,000 ODI runs .
Samson credited both the IPL and domestic tournaments — Ranji Trophy , Vijay Hazare Trophy , and Mushtaq Ali Trophy — for India's exceptional squad depth.
India were set to face Sri Lanka in the Asian Games men's cricket semi-final at Nisshin .
India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson on 30 September heaped praise on former captain Virat Kohli, describing him as a constant source of inspiration for players across generations and saying the national team considers itself 'very, very fortunate' to have someone of his stature in the squad. Samson made the remarks on the eve of India's Asian Games men's cricket semi-final against Sri Lanka in Nisshin.
What Sparked the Tribute
Samson's words followed Kohli's match-winning unbeaten 139 in the Thiruvananthapuram ODI against the West Indies, a game India won by eight wickets. During that innings, Kohli also crossed the 15,000-run mark in One Day Internationals, becoming only the second batter in history — after Sachin Tendulkar — to reach that milestone.
Samson's Words on Kohli's Influence
'What to say? I think we are very, very fortunate to have someone like him. I think whenever he scores, runs, practices or turns out to play a game of cricket for our country or wherever he goes, I think it is a great inspiration for people like us still playing the game in the Indian national team and for everyone playing alongside with him,' Samson told reporters.
'I think it definitely benefits the way he puts on the performances. So, very happy to have him,' he added. The remarks reflect a broader sentiment within the Indian dressing room, where Kohli's work ethic and consistency are widely regarded as benchmarks for younger players to aspire to.
India's Bench Strength and Domestic Cricket
Samson also addressed the remarkable depth of Indian cricket, with multiple national squads — including the main ODI and T20I sides, the 'A' teams, and the Under-19 setup — operating simultaneously across the globe. He attributed this depth to a combination of a thriving domestic structure and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
'Absolutely, I think it is all over the internet. It is a known fact nowadays how strong Indian cricket has grown from last so many years. So, I think there has been some constant effort. I think definitely IPL plays a huge role. But I feel our domestic cricket is also playing a huge role actually,' Samson said.
He specifically cited marquee domestic tournaments — the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the Ranji Trophy — as critical nurseries for talent. 'Even the under-19 are travelling abroad every season actually. So, a great amount of cricketers are coming from these kind of games, which is a great thing for our country and we will keep doing our best,' he said.
The Asian Games Context
The comments came ahead of a high-stakes Asian Games 2023 men's cricket semi-final in Nisshin, where India were set to face Sri Lanka. The tournament has provided fringe players and those outside the main Test and white-ball setups an additional platform, further underlining the depth Samson spoke of. Notably, Kohli himself was not part of the Asian Games squad, yet his influence loomed large enough to dominate the pre-match conversation.
Point of View
000-run milestone is a statistical landmark, but the more significant story is cultural: Kohli has become the standard against which the entire Indian dressing room measures itself. Samson's praise for domestic cricket alongside the IPL is also worth noting — it is a subtle pushback against the narrative that franchise cricket alone built India's bench strength. The Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy still matter, and players know it.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sanju Samson say about Virat Kohli at the Asian Games?
Samson described Kohli as a constant inspiration and said the Indian team considers itself 'very, very fortunate' to have someone of his calibre. He made the remarks on 30 September on the eve of India's Asian Games semi-final against Sri Lanka in Nisshin.
What milestone did Virat Kohli achieve in the Thiruvananthapuram ODI?
Kohli crossed 15,000 ODI runs during his unbeaten 139 against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram, becoming only the second batter in history to reach that mark after Sachin Tendulkar. India won that match by eight wickets.
What is the significance of Kohli's 15,000 ODI runs?
It places Kohli in exclusive company alongside Sachin Tendulkar as the only two batters ever to score 15,000 or more runs in One Day Internationals. The feat underlines Kohli's consistency across nearly two decades of international cricket.
Why did Samson credit domestic cricket alongside the IPL for India's depth?
Samson argued that tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Mushtaq Ali Trophy, along with regular Under-19 tours abroad, are just as important as the IPL in developing talent. He said the grooming structure is 'really nicely placed' and continues to produce a high volume of quality cricketers.
Who was India playing in the Asian Games cricket semi-final?
India were scheduled to face Sri Lanka in the men's cricket semi-final at the Asian Games in Nisshin. Samson's comments were made to reporters on the eve of that match.
