Sanju Samson

Sanju Viswanath Samson is one of the brightest shining stars on the Indian cricketing horizon. The wicket-keeper batsman oozes class and maturity when he takes the guard in the middle. Though some tough competition in the Indian side has eluded him the long run he deserves, Samson, without an iota of doubt is one of the most complete wicket-keeper batters in the circuit.

Sanju began his career by training in Delhi where his father was stationed as a Police Constable, however, he soon moved to Thiruvananthapuram and started making waves with his compact yet nonchalant game. His impressive technique combined with an ability to time the ball earned him a place in Kerala's U-19 team and a consistent outing in the Cooch Behar Trophy (domestic U-19 championship) elevated him into India's team for the U-19 Asia Cup in 2012.

Sanju Samson: Along the Years

Sanju Samson Records

• Most runs for India U-19 in ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2014

• Second-fastest double century in the history of List-A cricket

• Second youngest batter to score a half-century in IPL history

• Youngest batter to score 1,000 runs in IPL

• Youngest batsman to score 2,000 runs in IPL

• Youngest cricketer to captain a Ranji side

Sanju Samson Awards and Accolades

• Emerging Player of the Season, IPL 2013

• Fastest double hundred in List-A

Sanju Samson Career

Sanju Samson is one of the most technically sound batters in the Indian circuit. His ability to time the ball with ease and score elegantly is an absolute treat to watch.

Sanju Samson Domestic Career

Sanju Samson made his first-class debut for the Kerala Ranji team on 3 November 2011 against Vidarbha at the young age of 17. He made an impact almost immediately as he scored two hundred and a fifty in five appearances the next season.

The Ranji Trophy 2013-14 was the breakthrough season for Samson as he truly came to the party. In the first match, Assam put in a challenging total of 323 runs in the first inning. However, Sanju Samson eclipsed Assam's inning by scoring a career-best 211 to give Kerala a vital 39-run lead. He hit 23 fours and 5 sixes to bring up his first double-century in the Ranji Trophy.

He was the highest scorer of the Ranji Trophy 2013-14 after the second round of matches with 377 runs off 2 matches at an average of 188.5. In all, he played six matches (11 innings) and ended up as Kerala's highest run-getter, scoring 530 runs at an average of 58.88.

Samson's highest point in the domestic circuit came in the 2019-20 season when during the Vijay Hazare match against Goa, he smashed an unbeaten double-century. The Kerala wicket-keeper batsman made his way into the record books by smashing an unbeaten 212 off just 129 balls to register the highest individual score in List A cricket by a wicket-keeper batsman. Samson got past Pakistan’s Abid Ali’s record who had scored an unbeaten 208 in Pakistan’s domestic one-day competition in 2018.

Sanju Samson IPL Career

After an impressive Ranji Trophy debut season, Sanju Samson attracted a lot of eyeballs and was scalped by Kolkata Knight Riders. However, he didn't get a chance to play for them and ultimately went to Rajasthan Royals in 2013 where he bloomed to his potential.

For three years Sanju became an integral part of Rajasthan Royals' batting lineup. When Rahul Dravid was mentoring the Royals in IPL-7, he spoke highly of Samson and added that he is one of the players in the current lot, who will excel for India shortly.

As a result, the Rajasthan Royals retained Sanju for the 2015 IPL season. Rajasthan Royals performed well in the league making it to the knockout matches but Sanju Samson couldn't bring justice to his cause as he recorded only one 50-plus score in the 15 matches he played.

However in 2016, when RR was axed from the IPL, Delhi Daredevils bought Samson and he didn't disappoint his new franchise as in 2017 he ended up as Delhi's third-highest run-getter.

Sanju scored his maiden T20 century in IPL 2017 against Rising Pune Supergiant on 11 Apr 2017 at Maharastra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. When Rajasthan came back into the IPL fold in January 2018, he was instantly bought by the franchise for Rs. 8 Crores in the IPL auction. On March 29, 2019, Sanju Samson scored his second IPL century against Sunrisers Hyderabad hitting 102 not out off just 55 balls which included 10 fours and 4 sixes.

Sanju had a decent season in 2020, scoring 375 runs with a strike rate of 158.89. He scored his third IPL century which came in a losing cause in IPL 2021. Sanju has had decent campaigns in the last two seasons with the bat and will be hoping to lead from the front in IPL 2024.

Sanju Samson International Career

Sanju Samson debuted for the Indian cricket team way back in 2015 but has yet to make a mark in the international forum as he has not gotten a long run of chances to prove himself on the biggest stage. Sanju was retained by the BCCI in the Grade C contract for 2024.

Sanju Samson ODI Career

Sanju Samson made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka on July 23, 2021. He has scored 510 runs in 16 matches at a staggering average of 56.67. His maiden ODI century came against South Africa in December 2023 in tricky conditions and Sanju made the most of the opportunity presented to him.

Sanju Samson T20I Career

Before making his debut, Sanju was selected in the 17-man squad to play against England in 5 ODIs and a T20 in 2014, however, he did not get a chance to start in the Playing XI.

Sanju Samson continued making big runs and consistent performances in the IPL and Ranji Trophy meant that the Kerala lad was picked for the Zimbabwe tour in 2015. He made his first appearance for India in a T20 game. However, it did not turn out to be a good match for him as he only managed to score 19 runs off 24 deliveries.

He was selected for the T20I series of the India tour of New Zealand in 2020 and was part of the playing eleven as an opener. Though he couldn't create the desired impact with the bat, he had finally made a spot in the team after 4 years in the wilderness.

Sanju scored his maiden T20I half-century against Ireland in Dublin. However, lack of consistency clubbed with not getting a longer run of chances has denied Sanju from being a mainstay for India in T20Is.

The Kerala batter was named in the India squad for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies as a wicket-keeper batter alongside Rishabh Pant.

Sanju Samson Captaincy

Ahead of IPL 2021, the Rajasthan Royals think-tank appointed Sanju Samson as the leader of the franchise. However, he did not have a great run as a skipper as RR finished seventh on the points table. The IPL 2022 mega auction saw RR management bagging a few big buys and the team finished as runners-up under Sanju’s captaincy. Sanju and his boys missed out on a playoff spot narrowly in IPL 2023. Sanju has delivered the goods with great leadership under calm and composed circumstances and will be hoping for a title triumph to prove his worthiness as a leader.

Sanju Samson U-19 Career

Sanju Samson played the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2014 for India as a vice-captain and kept the wickets. He scored 160 runs at an average of 40 and was the highest scorer for India in that tournament.

Sanju Samson Family

Sanju Samson was born on 11 November 1994 to Lily and Samson Viswanath. His father was a Police Constable in Delhi Police. Samson is a devout Catholic and he married his college-mate and longtime girlfriend Charulatha Remesh in Thiruvananthapuram on 22 December 2018.

Sanju Samson's Net Worth

As of 2024, Sanju Samson has an estimated net worth of INR 82 crores or USD 10 million.

Sanju Samson House

Sanju Samson resides in his lavish bungalow in Thiruvananthapuram and also owns houses in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

Sanju Samson Cars

Sanju Samson owns about four cars in his garage, namely the BMW 5 series, Audi A6, Mercedes Benz C Class, and Range Rover Sports.