Sanju Samson is one of the most stylish and naturally gifted cricketers India has produced in the modern era. Known for his elegant stroke play, calm leadership, and explosive batting ability, Samson has carved a unique place for himself in Indian cricket. From being a prodigious talent in Kerala to captaining an IPL franchise and representing India at the international level, his journey is a story of talent, patience, setbacks, and resurgence.
This in-depth guide covers everything about Sanju Samson—his age, family background, wife, domestic and international career, IPL journey, batting and wicketkeeping stats, teams played for, records, achievements, and what makes him one of the most exciting cricketers of his generation.
Early Life & Background
Sanju Viswanath Samson was born on 11 November 1994 in Pulluvila, a small coastal village near Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India. He comes from a Malayali Christian family, and his father Samson Viswanath was a police constable in the Delhi Police as well as a former football player who represented Delhi in the Santosh Trophy. His mother Ligy Viswanath is a homemaker. Sanju also has an older brother, Saly Samson, who played junior cricket for Kerala and currently works in the AG’s office.
Sanju spent his early childhood in GTB Nagar, North Delhi, in a police residential colony. His cricketing journey began in Delhi where he trained under coach Yashpal at the DAV Model School Academy. However, when he was not selected for the Delhi U-13 team, his father made the bold decision to retire from the police force and move the family back to Kerala to support Sanju’s cricketing dreams.
In Kerala, he trained under coach Biju George and later rose through the ranks in Kerala’s cricket system. Sanju completed his schooling from St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram, and pursued a B.A. in English Literature from Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram.
Sanju Samson Personal Life — Family & Wife
Family
- Father: Samson Viswanath — Retired Delhi Police constable and former football player.
- Mother: Ligy Viswanath — Homemaker.
- Brother: Saly Samson — Former junior cricketer, now works at AG’s office.
Sanju’s family has been pivotal to his cricketing journey, supporting him through relocation and training from a very young age. His father’s retirement from police service to nurture Sanju’s talent is one key moment often highlighted in stories about his early life.
Wife — Charulatha Remesh
Sanju Samson is married to Charulatha Remesh. They first met as classmates at Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram where their friendship blossomed into a long-term relationship. After dating for about five years, the couple married on 22 December 2018 in an intimate ceremony at Kovalam, Kerala under the Special Marriage Act — a civil ceremony recognizing their union across religious backgrounds (Sanju is Christian and Charulatha is Hindu).
Charulatha is an entrepreneur with educational background in Human Resources and Chemistry. She often supports Sanju at matches and on cricket tours, balancing her own professional interests with family life. As of 2025, they do not have children and are focused on their careers and family life.
Physical Profile & Playing Style
- Height: Approx. 5 ft 7 in (170 cm).
- Batting Style: Right-handed batsman.
- Role: Wicketkeeper-batter.
- Jersey Number: #9 (India), #11 (IPL teams).
Sanju Samson is known for his aggressive and stylish batting, sharp wicketkeeping skills, and ability to hit big shots — especially in limited-overs cricket. He combines elegant timing with power, making him an asset in T20 and ODI formats. His athletic presence behind the stumps, coupled with a calculated yet attacking batting approach, marks him as one of India’s exciting modern white-ball players.
Domestic & Early Career Progression
Domestic Cricket
Sanju Samson made his first-class debut for Kerala at just 17. Early in his career, he stood out with consistent high scores, including two centuries and a fifty in consecutive games, which propelled him into India’s U-19 setup. He was part of the India squad for the 2014 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, where he finished as the highest run-scorer for India, posting three fifties and finishing sixth overall in the tournament.
In domestic List-A cricket, Sanju recorded a massive unbeaten 212 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2019 — then the highest individual List-A score by an Indian wicketkeeper. He also held the record for the fastest double century in List-A cricket and the highest total by a wicketkeeper in List-A competition.
Indian Premier League (IPL) Career
Sanju Samson’s IPL journey began with the Rajasthan Royals (RR):
IPL Timeline
- IPL Debut: 2013 for Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
- Emerging Player of the Season: 2013.
- Delhi Capitals: 2016–2017 (then known as Delhi Daredevils).
- Return to Rajasthan Royals: 2018 onwards.
- Captaincy: Appointed RR captain in 2021; led RR to the IPL final in 2022.
In a blockbuster move ahead of the IPL 2026 season, Sanju Samson was traded to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in exchange for all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran — a trade that marked a major reshaping of IPL franchises just before the 2026 season.
IPL Career Stats (as of IPL 2025)
- Matches: 177
- Runs: 4704
- Centuries: 3 — including a century on captaincy debut (119).
- Fifties: 26
- Boundaries: 379 fours, 219 sixes.
Records and Achievements in IPL
- Youngest batsman to score 2,000 runs in IPL.
- Most centuries by a wicketkeeper in Ranji Trophy (domestic) and notable partnerships.
- First IPL captain to score a century on debut.
International Career with India
Sanju Samson’s international journey began in T20 Internationals for India in July 2015 against Zimbabwe. His ODI debut came later on 23 July 2021 vs Sri Lanka in Colombo.
ODI Career (India)
- Matches: 16
- Runs: 510
- Highest Score: 108 vs South Africa
- Average: 56.67
- Centuries: 1
- Fifties: 3
- Catches/Stumpings: 9/2
T20I Career (India)
- Matches: 55
- Runs: 1048
- Highest Score: 111
- Average: 24.37
- Strike Rate: 147.60
- Centuries: 3
- Fifties: 3
- Catches/Stumpings: 37/7
Notable International Highlights
- In 2024, Sanju completed an extraordinary feat by scoring three T20I centuries in a single calendar year, becoming the first Indian to do so.
- He holds some standout singles and impactful knocks in both ODI and T20I formats, including a blazing century against Bangladesh that was among the fastest by an Indian in T20Is.
- He was also part of India’s victorious squads at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the 2025 Asia Cup.
- Sanju has also broken MS Dhoni’s record for most sixes by an Indian T20I wicketkeeper — registering 55 sixes in just 48 innings, surpassing Dhoni’s 52 from 85 innings.
Domestic List-A & First-Class Stats
In addition to his white-ball heroics, Sanju Samson’s performance in domestic cricket has been strong:
First-Class (Domestic)
- Matches: 66
- Runs: 3888
- Highest Score: 211 vs Assam
- Average: 39.27
- Centuries: 11
- Fifties: 17
- Catches/Stumpings: 94/7
List-A
- Matches: 130
- Runs: 3599
- Highest Score: 212
- Average: 34.28
- Centuries: 4
- Fifties: 19
- Catches/Stumpings: 127/15
These stats reflect his consistency across formats, particularly in domestic cricket where his numbers are notable with long innings and high conversion rates.
Style & Impact
Sanju Samson’s batting is characterized by his timing, improvisation, sharp shot selection, and ability to accelerate scoring — particularly in limited overs. His ability to hit sixes and fours with precision and his adaptability in batting positions often make him a match-winning player when in form. His wicketkeeping further adds value in all white-ball formats, where agility and anticipation are key.
His journey — from Kerala cricket pitches to IPL captaincy and international cricket — highlights his resilience, flair, and continuous improvement over time. He is also regarded for his leadership under pressure, grooming young talents and being a pivotal figure in team dynamics.
Sanju Samson — Career Statistics by Format
International & Domestic Batting Stats
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
| ODI | 16 | 14 | 510 | 108 | 56.67 | 99.61 | 1 | 3 |
| T20I | 55 | 47 | 1048 | 111 | 24.37 | 147.60 | 3 | 3 |
| IPL | 177 | 172 | 4704 | 119 | 30.95 | 139.05 | 3 | 26 |
| First-Class (FC) | 66 | 108 | 3888 | 211 | 39.27 | 60.20 | 11 | 17 |
| List-A (LA) | 130 | 121 | 3599 | 212* | 34.28 | 90.56 | 4 | 19 |
Key Insights from Stats
- Samson’s ODI average (56.67) is particularly strong in limited chances.
- His T20I strike rate (~148) highlights his attacking batting approach.
- He has been a consistent IPL performer with 3 centuries and 26 fifties.
Timeline of Major Milestones — Sanju Samson
| Year / Date | Milestone |
| 1994, Nov 11 | Born in Pulluvila, Vizhinjam, Trivandrum, Kerala (India). |
| 2012 | First-class debut for Kerala at age 17. |
| 2013 | IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals; wins IPL Emerging Player Award in debut season. |
| 2014 | Represents India U-19 Team in ICC U-19 World Cup; top run-scorer for India in the tournament. |
| 2015, Jul | T20I debut for India vs Zimbabwe. |
| 2016–17 | Plays for Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) in IPL. |
| 2018 | Returns to Rajasthan Royals in IPL. |
| 2019 | Scores unbeaten 212 in Vijay Hazare Trophy — then highest List-A score by an Indian wicketkeeper. |
| 2021, Jul 23 | ODI debut vs Sri Lanka. |
| 2021 | Appointed captain of Rajasthan Royals (IPL). |
| 2022 | Leads Rajasthan Royals to IPL Final. |
| 2024 | Scores a blazing T20I century vs Bangladesh; part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 winning squad. |
| 2025 | Becomes first Indian to hit three T20I centuries in one year. |
| 2025 | Part of India’s Asia Cup winning team. |
| 2025, Nov | Traded to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2026 season. |
Records & Notable Achievements
Here’s a quick summary of Sanju Samson’s most important career highlights:
- Three T20I centuries — first Indian to do so in a single calendar year.
- Strong ODI average (56.67) over 16 matches.
- Consistent IPL run-getter with 4700+ runs and 3 centuries.
- Has scored unbeaten 212 in domestic List-A cricket.
- Holds record among Indian T20I wicketkeepers for most sixes, surpassing MS Dhoni’s tally.
Controversies & Criticism
Like many high-profile athletes, Sanju has been subject to public and media scrutiny. There have been debates about his consistency and selection in the national side — especially in limited-overs teams — with critics noting periods of inconsistency. Some former selectors and commentators have questioned selection decisions at times, often comparing his opportunities to others and commenting on whether he has maximized chances at the international level.
Despite such debates, supporters and analysts point to his significant milestones and impactful innings as evidence of his undeniable talent and game-changing ability.
Legacy & Recognition
Sanju Samson is often seen as one of India’s most dynamic wicketkeeper-batsmen in modern cricket, particularly in limited-overs formats. His exploits in IPL and T20Is have built a fan base across India and abroad. His elegant stroke play, strong character under pressure, and ability to play high-impact innings have cemented him as a fan favorite.
His story from a small village in Kerala, navigating challenges, relocating for cricket, and rising to international prominence — coupled with leadership roles in IPL — reflects both talent and tenacity. Sanju Samson’s journey continues as he enters the prime of his cricketing career with potential to break more records and lead Indian cricket in various formats.
Final words
Sanju Samson’s journey from a young Kerala cricketer to a prominent figure in Indian cricket exemplifies talent, resilience, and flair. Known for his elegant yet powerful batting and sharp wicket-keeping, he has delivered match-winning performances for India and in the IPL. He has not only amassed significant runs across formats but also set records, including multiple T20I centuries in a year and leading Rajasthan Royals to success in the IPL.
Despite ups and downs in form and selection debates, his ability to entertain with big hits and lead under pressure keeps him among India’s exciting white-ball talents. As he continues his career with Chennai Super Kings and the national team, fans expect many more memorable innings from this dynamic cricketer.
FAQs
Who is Sanju Samson?
Sanju Samson is an Indian international cricketer — a right-handed wicketkeeper-batter known for his aggressive batting and sharp keeping skills.
When was he born and how old is he?
He was born on 11 November 1994, making him 31 years old as of 2026.
Which teams has Sanju Samson played for in the IPL?
Samson debuted for Rajasthan Royals in 2013, spent 2016–17 with Delhi Capitals, then returned to RR and was traded to Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2026.
What are some of Sanju Samson’s biggest career records?
He has three IPL centuries, the highest List-A score by an Indian keeper (212*), and was the first player to score three T20I hundreds in a year.
Has he scored a century for India?
Yes — he has scored centuries in both ODIs (108) and T20Is (111) for India.
What makes Sanju Samson stand out as a cricketer?
Samson is noted for his powerful stroke-play, big hitting, and wicketkeeping, combining flair with match-impacting innings in white-ball cricket.
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