Sanju Viswanath Samson, born on 11 November 1994 in Pulluvila, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is widely regarded as one of the most naturally talented and stylistically elegant wicketkeeper-batsmen of his generation. Known across the cricketing world for his effortless timing, graceful cover drives, and the remarkable stillness he maintains at the crease, Sanju has carved out a reputation that resonates with fans across generations.
Over the course of a career spanning more than a decade, Sanju has evolved from a highly-touted teenager who struggled for consistent international opportunities, to a T20 World Cup winner, a record-breaking centurion, and one of Indian cricket’s most celebrated match-winners. His journey is one of extraordinary talent, remarkable patience, and ultimate triumph.
As of March 2026, Sanju Samson is playing for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026 after a high-profile trade from Rajasthan Royals, continues to represent India in white-ball cricket, and recently delivered one of the most breathtaking innings in T20 World Cup history an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls against the West Indies.
2. Personal Background & Early Life
Birth & Family
Sanju was born into a Malayali Christian family on 11 November 1994 in Pulluvila, a small coastal village near Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. However, his early childhood was spent far from Kerala in the Police residential colony in the North Delhi neighbourhood of GTB Nagar, where his father, Samson Viswanath, was posted as a police constable.
His father was not only a police officer but also a former football player of considerable ability, having represented Delhi in the prestigious Santhosh Trophy. This sporting background in the family planted the seeds of athletic ambition in young Sanju from an early age.
In one of Indian cricket’s most celebrated stories of parental sacrifice, Samson Viswanath took voluntary retirement from his stable, permanent government job at the Delhi Police, and relocated the entire family to Kerala solely so that Sanju could pursue cricket through the Kerala state setup, where opportunities for a talented young batter might be greater. This decision transformed Sanju’s trajectory and is inseparable from the story of his success.
Education & Early Cricket
Sanju attended Rosary Senior Secondary School in Delhi during his early years and trained at the cricket academy of DL DAV Model School, Shalimar Bagh, under coach Yashpal. His talent was evident from the very beginning his technique, temperament, and ability to time the ball crisply distinguished him from his peers.
A pivotal early setback came when he failed to make the Delhi Under-13 team for the Dhruv Pandove Trophy. Rather than being discouraged, this moment directly led to his father’s decision to relocate the family to Kerala a move that would ultimately launch Sanju’s professional career.
In Kerala, Sanju quickly created waves on the junior circuit. He was part of India’s squad for the 2014 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, where he finished as the team’s highest run-scorer hitting three fifties and finishing sixth in the tournament’s overall run charts announcing himself as a genuine batting prospect at the national level.
Personal Profile
| Full Name | Sanju Viswanath Samson |
| Date of Birth | 11 November 1994 |
| Age (2026) | 31 Years |
| Birthplace | Pulluvila, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Christian (Malayali) |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (approx. 170 cm) |
| Weight | approx. 75 kg |
| Batting Style | Right-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Off-break (occasional) |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batsman |
| Father | Samson Viswanath (Ex-Delhi Police / Football player) |
| Mother | Ligy Viswanath (Homemaker) |
| Brother | Saly Samson (AG’s Office, Kerala) |
| Wife | Charulatha Samson (married December 2018) |
3. Domestic Career
1 Ranji Trophy & First-Class Cricket
Sanju made his first-class debut for Kerala against Vidarbha at just 17 years of age a remarkable achievement that hinted at the career ahead. He quickly established himself as the cornerstone of Kerala’s batting lineup in the Ranji Trophy, and has been their most consistent performer across formats for well over a decade.
He holds the distinction of being the youngest cricketer to captain a Ranji Trophy side a record that reflects both his exceptional ability and the respect he commands within the Kerala cricketing set-up. He has scored double centuries in first-class cricket and has been a prolific accumulator of runs in red-ball cricket.
In a remarkable gesture that echoed Rohit Sharma’s return to domestic cricket in 2025, Sanju has always maintained his commitment to Kerala’s domestic programme, even during periods of busy international schedules a quality that has earned him enormous respect among his home state’s cricketing fraternity.
2 Vijay Hazare Trophy The Double Century
One of the most astonishing moments of Sanju’s domestic career came in October 2019, during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Batting for Kerala, he struck an unbeaten 212 the sixth time an Indian had scored a double century in List A cricket. Crucially, it was also the second-fastest double-century in List A history, and the then-highest individual List A score ever recorded by an Indian wicketkeeper.
The innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression Sanju mixed periods of consolidation with explosive hitting to build an innings of remarkable scale in a one-day format. It remains one of the landmark performances in Kerala cricket history and put the national selectors firmly on notice.
3 Indian Premier League (IPL)
Sanju Samson’s IPL career is the centrepiece of his cricketing story a stage on which he has consistently produced performances of the highest quality, and on which he first became a truly household name across India. He was first noticed by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 (without playing a game), before Rajasthan Royals bought him at the IPL 2013 auction at age 18.
His debut season for RR in 2013 was an immediate success he scored 206 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 115.73 and took 13 catches, winning the Emerging Player of the Year award. He was also named the youngest batsman to score 1,000 IPL runs. After a two-season stint with Delhi Daredevils (2016–17) when RR were banned, he returned to the Royals in 2018 and blossomed.
Appointed captain of Rajasthan Royals in 2021, Sanju led them to the IPL 2022 Final in what was widely regarded as the finest season in the franchise’s history since their inaugural triumph in 2008. He crossed 300+ runs for RR in seven consecutive seasons a remarkable record of consistency. In November 2025, he was traded to Chennai Super Kings for a fee of INR 18 crore one of the most expensive and high-profile trades in IPL history, with CSK giving away star all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in return.
• IPL Titles as Captain: Finalist, IPL 2022 (Rajasthan Royals)
• IPL Matches: 177 | Runs: 4,704 | Average: 30.95
• Highest Score: 119 | Centuries: 3 | Half-Centuries: 26
• Strike Rate: 135.73 | Fours: 379 | Sixes: 219
• RR All-Time Highest Run-Scorer: 3,934 runs for the franchise
• IPL 2026 Salary (CSK): INR 18 Crore per season
IPL Season-by-Season Record
| Season | Team | M | Runs | Avg | SR | 50s | 100s | HS |
| 2013 | RR | 11 | 206 | 18.72 | 115.73 | 1 | 0 | 63 |
| 2014 | RR | 14 | 267 | 20.53 | 121.36 | 1 | 0 | 82 |
| 2015 | RR | 11 | 236 | 23.60 | 125.53 | 0 | 0 | 58 |
| 2016 | DD | 14 | 320 | 26.66 | 128.00 | 2 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | DD | 10 | 185 | 20.55 | 131.20 | 1 | 0 | 64 |
| 2018 | RR | 12 | 441 | 44.10 | 138.36 | 3 | 1 | 102* |
| 2019 | RR | 12 | 342 | 31.09 | 130.99 | 3 | 0 | 79 |
| 2020 | RR | 14 | 375 | 28.84 | 158.22 | 3 | 0 | 85 |
| 2021 | RR | 14 | 484 | 44.00 | 145.90 | 3 | 1 | 119 |
| 2022 | RR | 17 | 458 | 28.62 | 136.90 | 4 | 0 | 55 |
| 2023 | RR | 14 | 362 | 27.84 | 153.38 | 2 | 1 | 103* |
| 2024 | RR | 16 | 531 | 37.92 | 153.17 | 3 | 0 | 86* |
| 2026 | CSK |
Overall IPL Career Statistics
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Highest | 4s | 6s |
| 177 | 166 | 4,704 | 30.95 | 135.73 | 3 | 26 | 119 | 379 | 219 |
Domestic Career Statistics Summary
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | 100s | 50s | Highest |
| First-Class (Ranji) | 72 | 121 | 3,622 | 35.50 | 10 | 16 | 212* | |
| List A (Vijay Hazare) | 82 | 79 | 3,300 | 40.74 | 6 | 16 | 212* | |
| Domestic T20s | 226 | 215 | 5,612 | 28.63 | 132.01 |
4. International Career
1 T20I Debut & Early Years (2015–2020)
Sanju Samson made his international T20I debut against Zimbabwe in Harare on 19 July 2015. He showed immediate flashes of brilliance, but the sheer depth of Indian batting with MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suresh Raina all available meant consistent international opportunities were extremely hard to come by in his early years.
This period was arguably the most testing of his career. Despite prolific runs in domestic cricket and the IPL, he was repeatedly overlooked or used as a back-up option in T20I squads. Yet Sanju never publicly complained or showed any loss of motivation a testament to his character and professionalism that would later earn him enormous respect.
2 ODI Debut The Long Wait (2021)
It took six years after his T20I debut for Sanju to feature in his maiden ODI game a wait that speaks to the extraordinary competition for places in the Indian batting lineup. He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo on 23 July 2021, and immediately showed his quality with a composed performance.
His ODI average of 57.00 across 16 matches the highest among active Indian batsmen with significant appearances is a remarkable number that reflects the quality of his performances every time he was given an extended run in the side.
3 The Maiden ODI Century South Africa (2023)
Sanju’s maiden ODI century arrived in the 3rd ODI of the three-match series against South Africa on 21 December 2023, at Eurolux Boland Park in Paarl. He scored 108 off 114 balls a composed, authoritative innings that mixed patience and aggression in perfect measure. The innings announced his arrival as a serious ODI contender and demonstrated the full range of his batting ability under pressure.
4 The 2024 Breakthrough Three T20I Centuries in a Year
The year 2024 was the defining year of Sanju Samson’s international career. Given a consistent run as opener and trusted with greater responsibility, he responded with three T20I centuries in a single calendar year a feat no batter in the history of international cricket had ever achieved before him.
His first century came against Bangladesh in Hyderabad an explosive 111* off 57 balls that was the second-fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter. He then backed it up with back-to-back centuries on the South Africa tour 102* in Durban and 100 in Centurion. These performances placed him firmly in the elite tier of T20 batters globally.
| Century # | Score | Balls | Opponent | Venue | Date | Result |
| 1st T20I 100 | 111* | 57 | Bangladesh | Hyderabad | October 2024 | India Won |
| 2nd T20I 100 | 102* | 64 | South Africa | Durban | November 2024 | India Won |
| 3rd T20I 100 | 100 | 56 | South Africa | Centurion | November 2024 | India Won |
By scoring his third T20I century against South Africa on 15 November 2024, Sanju became the first player in cricket history to score three T20I centuries in a single calendar year a record that places him in exclusive company among the all-time greats of the format.
5 ICC Tournaments & Team India Honours
Sanju was part of India’s victorious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad one of the proudest moments of his career. He also played a pivotal role as India won the Asia Cup 2025. These team honours cemented his reputation as a match-winner who consistently delivers when India needs him most.
6 T20 World Cup 2026 An Unforgettable Match-Winning Knock
Perhaps the most dramatic and defining chapter of Sanju’s international career came at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Despite being in a difficult patch of form his T20I average between early 2025 and March 2026 was a modest 17.44 he remained selfless, professional and prepared throughout, accepting whatever role the team asked of him, including batting in unfamiliar positions or sitting out of the XI entirely.
When not in the playing XI for India’s Super 8 clash against South Africa, he spent over two hours in the nets at the request of batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, batting purely to help India’s bowlers practice against a right-hander. This act of pure selflessness encapsulated his character perfectly.
His moment arrived in India’s next Super 8 match against the West Indies on 1 March 2026. Chasing 196 the highest target India had ever faced in a T20 World Cup Sanju walked out under the most intense pressure and delivered a breathtaking innings of 97* off just 50 balls, hitting 12 fours and 4 sixes. India won with 4 balls to spare, reaching their highest-ever successful chase in the competition. The knock was the highest individual score by an Indian batter while chasing in T20 World Cup history and the sixth-highest overall.
Sanju won the Player of the Match award and India advanced to the semi-finals. The innings was hailed as one of the great T20 innings in World Cup history.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | 100s | 50s | Highest | 4s | 6s |
| ODI | 16 | 15 | 510 | 57.00 | 102.40 | 1 | 3 | 108 | 48 | 12 |
| T20I | 59 | 52 | 1,124 | 24.00 | 133.25 | 3 | 5 | 111* | 92 | 61 |
7 ICC Tournament Record
| Tournament | Year | Matches | Best Score | Result |
| ICC U-19 World Cup | 2014 | Highest team scorer | ||
| ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | 2024 | Champions | ||
| Asia Cup | 2025 | Champions | ||
| ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | 2026 | 2+ | 97* vs West Indies | Semi-Finalists |
5. Records & Achievements
1 Individual Records
• First player in cricket history to score three T20I centuries in a single calendar year (2024)
• Youngest batsman to score 1,000 runs in IPL history
• Youngest cricketer to captain a Ranji Trophy side
• Rajasthan Royals’ all-time highest run-scorer 3,934 runs for the franchise
• Unbeaten 212 in the 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy 6th Indian with a List A double century; second-fastest ever
• 97* off 50 balls vs West Indies highest score by an Indian while chasing in T20 World Cups (2026)
• Second-fastest T20I century by an Indian 111* off 57 balls vs Bangladesh (2024)
• Third on the list of most T20I centuries by an Indian batter
• Highest ODI average (57.00) among active Indian batsmen with significant appearances
2 Team & Leadership Honours
• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Winner (Team India)
• Asia Cup 2025 Winner (Team India)
• IPL Emerging Player of the Year Award 2013
• Led Rajasthan Royals to the IPL 2022 Final (Runners-up)
• Crossed 300+ IPL runs for Rajasthan Royals in seven consecutive seasons
3 Off-Field Recognition
• Appointed State Election Icon of Kerala 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly Election
• Named Kerala Blasters FC Brand Ambassador February 2023
• Appointed India Brand Ambassador of the English Premier League October 2025
• Most expensive wicketkeeper trade in IPL history INR 18 crore (CSK, November 2025)
6. Playing Style & Technical Profile
1 Batting
Sanju Samson is technically one of the most correct batsmen in Indian limited-overs cricket. He holds the bat high on the handle and keeps his shoulders loose, allowing his hands to generate significant bat speed. He maintains remarkable stillness at the crease rarely moving down the track instead relying on hard hands, precise head position, and exceptional balance to generate power.
His range extends from cover to fine-leg. He is equally adept at the pull, the cut, the lofted straight drive, and the ramp shot. His ability to switch gears playing a measured anchoring role when needed and exploding when the situation demands makes him an invaluable asset in any batting lineup.
Perhaps his most distinctive quality is his ability to hit aerial shots without moving his head a trait that speaks to extraordinary balance and hand-eye coordination, and which coaches point to as the hallmark of an exceptional natural talent.
2 Wicketkeeping
As a wicketkeeper, Sanju combines natural athleticism with sharp reflexes and excellent positional awareness. His fast hands are an asset both behind the stumps and at the crease. He is particularly strong standing up to the stumps to slow bowlers, and his vocal, encouraging presence behind the wicket is an important part of his contribution to any team’s field performance.
His DRS decision-making has also been noted as a strength, and his rapport with the bowlers he works alongside particularly spinners has been highlighted by coaches and teammates as a significant value-add to any squad.
3 Leadership
Sanju’s captaincy of Rajasthan Royals from 2021 onwards was a period of significant personal and professional growth. He led with calmness, tactical intelligence, and a clear vision. His finest leadership moment came in IPL 2022, when he guided the Royals through a thrilling campaign to the IPL Final. His leadership philosophy is centred around trust, clarity, and calmness under pressure qualities that have made him an increasingly respected figure in the dressing room.
7. Personal Life & Off the Field
1 Marriage & Family
Sanju married his long-time girlfriend Charulatha Remesh, a Hindu and a native of Thiruvananthapuram, in December 2018. The couple first met at Mar Ivanios College in Thiruvananthapuram. Their wedding took place in a private ceremony at Kovalam and was registered under the Special Marriage Act an inter-religious marriage that attracted admiration for its quiet dignity.
Sanju is deeply family-oriented. He is widely regarded as calm, grounded, and private in his personal life, though the couple occasionally shares glimpses on social media. Much of his public presence is centred around his cricket, his academy, and his community engagements.
2 Six Guns Sports Academy
In 2018, Sanju founded the ‘Six Guns Sports Academy’ in Thiruvananthapuram dedicated to cricket and football training for young players in Kerala. The academy reflects his deep passion for sport and his desire to give back to the community that shaped him. Coaching young talent from his home state is something Sanju has spoken about with great pride and emotion.
3 Other Professional Engagements
During the two years when Rajasthan Royals were banned from the IPL (2016–17), Sanju worked as a manager at Bharat Petroleum in Thiruvananthapuram a grounding experience that many who know him credit for adding a layer of maturity and perspective to his personality that goes beyond cricket.
He is also a passionate football fan and has spoken about football’s influence on his athleticism, footwork, and overall approach to sport. He was named Kerala Blasters FC brand ambassador in February 2023.
8. Net Worth & Finances
Sanju Samson is one of the wealthiest cricketers from Kerala, with an estimated net worth in the range of INR 80–100 crore (approximately USD 10–12 million). His income is drawn from multiple streams:
| Estimated Net Worth | INR 80 – 100 Crore (approx.) |
| IPL 2026 Contract (CSK) | INR 18 Crore per season |
| BCCI Central Contract | Grade C INR 1 Crore per year |
| Brand Endorsements | Multiple premium national & international brands |
| Sports Academy | Six Guns Sports Academy, Thiruvananthapuram |
| EPL Brand Ambassador | Since October 2025 |
| Kerala Blasters FC | Brand Ambassador since February 2023 |
| Property & Investments | Property in Kerala; fitness & training investments |
His IPL trade fee of INR 18 crore to Chennai Super Kings makes him the most expensively acquired wicketkeeper in IPL trade history. His BCCI Grade C central contract earns him INR 1 crore annually. Brand endorsements, social media collaborations, and his academy represent growing additional income streams.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
1 Who is Sanju V Samson?
Sanju Viswanath Samson is an Indian international cricketer and wicketkeeper-batsman who plays for Kerala in domestic cricket, Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, and the Indian national team in white-ball cricket. He is a T20 World Cup 2024 winner, Asia Cup 2025 winner, and one of the most celebrated batters of his generation.
2 What is Sanju Samson’s age?
He was born on 11 November 1994 and is 31 years old as of March 2026. He will turn 32 in November 2026.
3 Which IPL team does Sanju Samson play for in 2026?
Sanju plays for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026. He was traded from Rajasthan Royals in November 2025 in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, with CSK paying INR 18 crore for him, the most expensive wicketkeeper acquisition in IPL trade history.
4 What is Sanju Samson’s most famous record?
He is the first player in cricket history to score three T20I centuries in a single calendar year (2024). He also scored 97* off 50 balls against the West Indies at the T20 World Cup 2026 the highest individual score by an Indian while chasing in T20 World Cup history.
5 What is Sanju Samson’s estimated net worth?
His estimated net worth is INR 80–100 crore, generated through his INR 18 crore IPL contract, BCCI central contract, brand endorsements, his sports academy, and his EPL brand ambassador role.
6 Has Sanju Samson won any ICC trophies?
Yes. He was a member of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 winning squad and the Asia Cup 2025 winning squad. He also played a crucial match-winning role at the T20 World Cup 2026, helping India reach the semi-finals with a breathtaking 97* against the West Indies.
10. Conclusion
Sanju Viswanath Samson’s cricket story is far more than a collection of statistics and records it is a deeply human tale of extraordinary talent, parental sacrifice, patience, perseverance, and ultimate triumph. From a Police residential colony in North Delhi to the most glittering stages of world cricket, his journey has been shaped by forces both on and off the field.
His 97* against the West Indies at the T20 World Cup 2026 coming after months of being shuffled around the batting order and even left out of the XI perfectly encapsulates the man and the cricketer. He remained selfless when not playing, professional in every moment of his preparation, and utterly match-winning when the team needed him most. It was, in many ways, the most Sanju Samson moment of all.
As he begins his new chapter with Chennai Super Kings wearing the iconic yellow jersey in front of one of cricket’s most passionate fan bases Sanju Samson looks not like a cricketer winding down, but one who is finally, fully, at the peak of his powers. The records already broken are extraordinary. And yet, the best may still be yet to come.