ODI World Cup 2023: Trent Boult imitates Kerala icon Sanju Samson, receives huge cheer from fans in Thiruvananthapuram

Trent Boult is currently in India with the New Zealand team to play in the ODI World Cup. He recently made a comeback to international cricket after a one-year hiatus. The swing sensation played in the warm-up game against South Africa on Monday, October 2, in Thiruvananthapuram.

For the unversed, Thiruvananthapuram is a city in Kerala, a place from where the popular Indian cricketer Sanju Samson hails from. Boult and Sanju share a good relationship as they are part of the same Indian Premier League franchise - Rajasthan Royals.

A video from the warm-up fixture between New Zealand and South Africa is going viral on social media. During the second innings, Boult was fielding at deep fine leg at one point. A few fans had gone to watch the match and were heard chanting 'Halla Bol', which is the Rajasthan Royals slogan, in the video. He turned towards the fans and imitated Royals captain Samson. This gesture from Boult was greeted with a huge cheer from the fans.

Trent Boult imitates Sanju Samson 😍@IamSanjuSamson @rajasthanroyals #NZvSA #WC2023 #WarmUp @SanjuSamsonFP #Hallabol #Thiruvananthapuram pic.twitter.com/wHfyJsvTTL

— akhil raj (@akhilrajpr97) October 2, 2023

New Zealand are one of the most loved teams around the world because of their amicable nature. This little act from the left-arm seamer surely won the hearts of the ones present in the stands and many watching the viral video on social media.

New Zealand head into the ODI World Cup with two wins in warm-up games

Teams don't necessarily rate wins in warm-up games too highly but they won't deny the fact that winning is a good habit to pursue. In the same light, New Zealand have picked up two impressive wins in as many warm-up games before their opening fixture in the ODI World Cup against England on Thursday, October 5 in Ahmedabad.

In the first warm-up affair against Pakistan, New Zealand made a mockery of a stiff 346-run target as they chased the score down with five wickets and 38 balls to spare. On Monday, against the Proteas, New Zealand won by seven runs via DLS method after posting 321/6 in their 50 overs. Devon Conway and Tom Latham scored half-centuries against Aiden Markram's men, while Boult picked up a couple of wickets with the ball.