20 Facts about Sanju Samson - The new age wicket-keeper

Kerala batsman Sanju Samson has made a phenomenal start to his career. For someone of his age, Samson comes in as a very mature package for any team. He is not only effective behind the stumps but also a very capable batsman. The youngster has every shot of the cricket book. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that he has an ideal blend of copybook style and unorthodox cricket. This makes him a handy cricketer for any format.

Sanju Samson made a very early start to his cricket career and has been a juggernaut at the age group levels. His dynamic batting abilities make him ideal to bat anywhere in the top order. In addition to that, this Kerala batsman is capable of using the long handle too. There is a lot more to his young career than what people know about him. He has had a brilliant journey thus far. It would only be fitting to him in the national colors sometime soon.

Here are some facts about Sanju Samson – the new age wicket-keeper:

Sanju Viswanath Samson was born on 11 November 1994 at Pulluvila, Vizhinjam, Trivandrum. His father was a Police constable in Delhi Police. As a young kid, Sanju attended Rosary Senior Secondary School, Delhi and later did his high schooling from St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Samson is currently pursuing Bachelor of Arts degree at Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum.

2. Hand of father

Viswanath Samson is said to have played a major role in shaping his cricket career. He voluntarily sacrificed his settled job as a police constable in Delhi after Samson failed to make it to the Delhi U13 team. The family moved back to their hometown thereafter to give Samson a new beginning to his cricket career.

Also read – CT Exclusive- It’s important to work hard on the field and get it right in the head: Sanju Samson

3. A child prodigy

Sanju Samson was on a roll in the U13 level. He made it to the Kerala U13 and was named the captain of the side. He scored a century on debut and had a remarkable series with 4 centuries to his name in 5 matches of South Zone U13 tournament.

4. Taking it to the next level

His stellar performances in the U13s saw him climb up to the U16 Kerala team. In the Vijay Merchant South Zone trophy match against Goa, he scored an unbeaten 200 off just 138 balls. He emerged as the leading run-getter in the tournament kudos to which he was picked up in the Ranji team.

5. A failed Ranji debut

Samson made it to the Kerala Ranji team at a bare age of 15 in 2009 with some serious reputation. However, the young lad a disappointing First Class debut. He could score only 3 on his Ranji Trophy debut against Vidarbha in 2011 season. However, he soon scored a century against Himachal Pradesh.

6. More disappointment followed

Samson was drafted to the U19 team for the Asia Cup 2012. However, with just 14 runs in 3 matches, Samson’s outing was a disappointing one. He was not picked up for the ICC U19 World Cup 2012 owing to poor performances.

Also read – 10 International Players to watch out for in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy season

7. Escalating the U19 way – Asia Cup heroics

Impressive performances in the Cooch Behar trophy for Kerala U19 made way to the India U19 team for Sanju Samson. He scored a brilliant ton in the U19 Asia Cup 2013 finals to help India beat Pakistan to retain the trophy.

8. Camaraderie with Pakistan

Scoring a century in the U19 Asia Cup wasn’t the end of the love affair between Sanju Samson and the Pakistan team. He struck another well compiled 74 against Pakistan U19 in the ICC U19 World Cup in 2014 to help India U19 beat the arch-rivals in the group stages. He has plundered 215 runs in 5 matches against Pakistan U19 at an average close to 43.

9. KKR’s loss is Royals’ gain

Samson was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders camp in the 2012 IPL season. He was traded to the Rajasthan Royals in the season that followed. Since then, he had been a consistent performer for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. He was sold to Delhi Daredevils for 4.2 Crores in 2016 IPL auctions.

10. Good crop coming from Kerala

Samson made his IPL debut against Kings XI Punjab in 2013 by replacing an injured Dishant Yagnik in the team. He forged an unbeaten partnership with Ajinkya Rahane to see his side chase down the target of 126. He scored an unbeaten 27 off 23 balls. Soon after the match, praises came in from all corners for the young batsman. Commentator Harsha Bhogle remarked, “Must confess I like the look of Sanju Samson. First time I saw him play. good crop coming fromKeralaa.”

11. Youngest player to score an IPL fifty

In his very next match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he scored 63 off 41 balls to help Royals chase 172. At the age of 18 years and 169 days, he became the youngest player to score an IPL fifty.

12. The emerging star

He won the Best Young Player award for the 2013 IPL season in a poll conducted by the IPL.

13. Youngest in the crore club

Rajasthan Royals retained Samson for a whopping 4 crore rupees. At the age of 19, he became the youngest player to join the crore club in the cash-rich tournament.

14. Dominating the Champions League T20

In the 2013 Champions League T20, he scored 192 runs in 6 matches including 3 half centuries with an average of 39 runs at a strike rate of 127. Playing against Mumbai Indians, he scored 54 off 47 balls to become the youngest player to score a fifty in the tournament.

15. Extending the good run in the longer format

Sanju Samson emerged as the leading run scorer for Kerala in the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season with 530 runs to his name in 6 matches. He hit a classy 211 against Assam and followed it up with 115 against Andhra Pradesh in the first two matches of the season for Kerala.

16. Becoming the overseas bully

He quashed all critics by performing exceedingly well in overseas conditions. Playing in the Quadrangular A team tournament for India in Australia, Samson emerged as the leading run scorer for his team with 244 runs at an average of 81.33 in 7 innings. He remained unbeaten on 4 occasions.

17. National call beckoned

He was picked up in the national team for the tour to England in 2014. However, he did not get a game back then. He was drafted into the T20I team for the tour to Zimbabwe in 2015. He made his debut during the 2^nd T20I and scored 19 off 24 balls as India failed to chase 145 against Zimbabwe, falling short by 10 runs.

18. Youngest to 1000 runs

He became the youngest batsman to score 1000 runs in IPL cricket.

19. Youngest captain

Samson is currently the captain of the Kerala Ranji team. He is the youngest player to score 2 double centuries in Ranji Trophy and also the youngest captain in the history of Ranji Trophy.

20. The ultimate dream

Though Samson wishes to don the whites for his country, he aspires to become as IPS officer.