Sanju Samson

There are many wicketkeepers in the Indian team. Sanju Samson is one of them. The Kerala-based cricketer is a great player. Sometimes inconsistency affects his game, but in crucial times, Sanju is a big strength for India.  Behind the wickets, he is so flexible. Along with the Kerala state team, he showcased his expertise for India and Rajasthan Royals.

History:

Samson was born on November 11, 1994, into a Malayali Christian family in Pulluvila, a coastal village near Vizhinjam in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. His father, Samson Viswanath was also a retired football player, having represented Delhi in the Santhosh Trophy. Samson’s mother, Ligy Viswanath, is a homemaker. His older brother, Saly Samson, has made a mark representing Kerala in Junior cricket.

Sanju Samson completed his high school education at St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Following that, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature at Mar Ivanios College, also located in Thiruvananthapuram.

During his early childhood, Samson resided in the Police residential colony in the GTB Nagar neighborhood of North Delhi and attended Rosary Senior Secondary School in Delhi. Under the guidance of coach Yashpal, he received training at the academy in DL DAV Model School, Shalimar Bagh.

Later on, in Kerala, he joined the Masters Cricket Club in Thiruvananthapuram before making a switch to train under Biju George at the Medical College Ground in the same city.

Teams:

Samson started making his mark in cricket at a young age. Back in 2007, he was part of the U-13 cricket team for Kerala. During the KSCA Inter-State under-13 tournament, he not only captained the Kerala team but also earned the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. Moving up to the U-16 level, Samson showcased his batting prowess in the 2008–09 Vijay Merchant Trophy by scoring a remarkable double-century off 138 balls against Goa. His outstanding performance in the 2010-11 Cooch Behar Trophy caught the attention, earning him a spot in the India U-19 team for the 2012 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup held in Malaysia in June 2012.

During the 2013 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup held in the UAE, Samson displayed his batting prowess by scoring a century in the final against Pakistan. Recognizing his leadership qualities, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Sanju as the vice-captain of the Indian team for the 2014 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in January of the same year.

Samson’s outstanding performance, scoring a double-century in the 2008-09 Vijay Merchant Trophy, earned him a spot in the Kerala squad for the 2009–10 Ranji Trophy. In the same year, he was also named in the squad for the 2009–10 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Making his mark, Samson made his first-class debut in the 2011–12 Ranji Trophy on November 3, 2011, against Vidarbha. 

His Twenty20 debut followed on October 16, 2011, against Hyderabad in the 2011–12 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Continuing to represent Kerala, he was part of the squad for the 2011-12 Vijay Hazare Trophy and made his List-A debut on February 23, 2012, against Andhra Pradesh in that season.

In August 2014, Sanju earned a spot in India’s 17-member squad for a series comprising 5 ODIs and a Twenty20 against England. Then, in July 2015, he got called up to the Indian squad for an ODI and two T20I matches against Zimbabwe, stepping in for the injured Ambati Rayudu. Making his T20I debut on July 19, 2015, against Zimbabwe in Harare, Sanju showcased his skills on the international stage.

Samson found his initial connection with the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he was named in the player pool by Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2009 season. Although he was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2012 IPL, he didn’t get a chance to play and was released before the 2013 season.

 Subsequently, he joined Rajasthan Royals in 2013. Samson made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals on April 14, 2013, against Kings XI Punjab, stepping in as the wicket-keeper when Dishant Yagnik, the regular wicket-keeper, couldn’t recover from an injury.

In 2016, Samson joined Delhi Capitals after Rajasthan faced a two-year ban from the competition due to their involvement in an illegal betting and match-fixing investigation. However, he later made a comeback to the Rajasthan Royals during the 2018 IPL auction.

Achievements and Awards:

In October 2019, in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Kerala and Goa, Sanju achieved his first List-A century and went on to double it. This impressive feat marked the second-fastest double hundred in List-A cricket and set a record as the fastest by an Indian in this format.

In his second game, he made a significant impact by scoring 63 runs from 41 balls, making him the youngest player at that time in the IPL to achieve a half-century. He clinched the Best Young Player award in the 2013 season, showcasing outstanding performance with 206 runs and executing six stumpings in just 10 innings.

Samson marked his entry into the Champions League Twenty20 by debuting for the Rajasthan Royals against the Mumbai Indians on September 21, 2013. In a standout performance, he scored 54 runs off 47 balls, making him the youngest player to achieve a half-century in CLT20.

In January 2021, Samson took on the role of captain for the Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming 2021 Indian Premier League. Making a memorable start to his captaincy, he scored a century in his first match in charge, making him the first IPL captain to accomplish such a feat.

Stats:

In the colorful world of cricket, Sanju Samson has left his mark with an impressive batting record. In the limited-overs arena, he’s dazzled in 16 ODIs, showcasing his skills with a stellar average of 56.66, including a memorable century and three half-centuries. The T20I scene has seen his quickfire innings in 25 matches, with a top score of 77, adding dynamism to his cricket profile. 

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