Sanju Samson Profile
A gifted wicketkeeper-batter from Kerala who was written off after a poor run, then won the T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament award. This is the complete story of Sanju Samson.
By CricketGatha · Updated October 2026 · 8 min read
Sanju Samson Quick Facts
| Full name | Sanju Viswanath Samson |
| Born | 11 November 1994, Pulluvila, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (age 31 as of October 2026) |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-batter, opener in T20Is |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Domestic team | Kerala |
| IPL team | Chennai Super Kings (from 2026; earlier Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils) |
| T20I debut | 19 July 2015 v Zimbabwe, Harare (cap 55) |
| Family | Father Samson Viswanath (former Delhi Police constable and Santosh Trophy footballer), mother Ligy, elder brother Saly |
| Education | BA in English literature, Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram |
Early Life and Background
Sanju was born in Pulluvila, a coastal village near Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram. His father worked as a constable with Delhi Police, so Sanju took his first cricket lessons in Delhi at the academy in DL DAV Model School, Shalimar Bagh, before the family moved back to Kerala when he was a teenager.
He made his Ranji Trophy debut for Kerala in November 2011 and later captained the state. In 2019, he scored an unbeaten 212 off 129 balls for Kerala in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, his highest score in List A cricket.
Career Timeline
Sanju Samson Career Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Highest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 66+ | 1,432+ | 111* | 3 hundreds, 6 fifties, average 27.02, strike rate 155.99 |
| ODI | 16 | 510 | 108 | One hundred, against South Africa in Paarl |
| IPL | 150+ | 4,000+ | 119 | Highest is 119 off 63 balls in 2021 |
| List A | 114 | 3,089 | 212* | Vijay Hazare Trophy, 2019 |
The T20 World Cup 2026 Comeback
Samson came into the 2026 T20 World Cup after a poor home series against New Zealand, where he made just 46 runs in five matches. He had also not played a game at the 2024 World Cup. In the end, he finished with 321 runs in five innings, at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.38, and India became the first team to defend the title.
| Match | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| v Namibia | 22 (8) | Three sixes |
| v Zimbabwe | 24 (15) | Two sixes |
| v West Indies, Kolkata | 97* (50) | Match-winning knock in a virtual quarter-final |
| v England, semi-final | 89 (42) | Eight fours and seven sixes |
| v New Zealand, final | 89 (46) | Highest score in a T20 World Cup final |
India won the final by 96 runs and posted 255/5, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final. Samson was named Player of the Tournament, and he is only the third Indian to win the award, after Virat Kohli (2014, 2016) and Jasprit Bumrah (2024).
Major Records
Most T20I centuries by Indians
Most runs by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup
24 sixes in one edition
His eight sixes in the final took him to 24 at the tournament, the most by any batter in a single T20 World Cup.
Three 80-plus scores in a row
Only the second batter, after Mahela Jayawardene in 2010, to score 80 or more in three straight matches in one T20 World Cup.
Fastest-scoring 250+
His strike rate of 199.37 is the highest by any batter with more than 250 runs in a T20 World Cup edition.
Knockout double
Only the third batter to score fifties in both the semi-final and the final of the same T20 World Cup.
Greatest Innings
| Score | Match | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 89 (46) | v New Zealand, T20 World Cup final, 2026 | Highest score in a T20 World Cup final |
| 89 (42) | v England, T20 World Cup semi-final, 2026 | Player of the Match as India reached the final |
| 97* (50) | v West Indies, Kolkata, 2026 | Took India into the semi-finals |
| 111 (47) | v Bangladesh, Hyderabad, 2024 | His highest T20I score |
| 109* (56) | v South Africa, Johannesburg, 2024 | Third T20I hundred in five innings |
| 212* (129) | Kerala v Goa, Vijay Hazare Trophy, 2019 | Highest List A score |
Batting Style and Strengths
- Effortless power: He hits sixes over long-on and cover with a clean, high bat swing and has 24 sixes at one World Cup.
- Pace and spin: He plays fast bowling well and is just as strong against spin, whether sweeping or hitting down the ground.
- Wicketkeeping: He is a quick, athletic keeper and has taken many catches in the IPL.
- Versatility: He has batted both as an opener and in the middle order for India.
The main criticism over the years has been consistency, with brilliant innings followed by low scores. His 2026 World Cup showed how far he can go when he is in the right frame of mind.
Sanju in the IPL
Samson spent most of his IPL career at Rajasthan Royals, where he became the highest run-scorer and captain from 2021. He also played for Delhi Daredevils. Before the 2026 season he was traded to Chennai Super Kings, with Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran going the other way. He marked the move with an unbeaten 115 against Delhi Capitals, the first individual century of IPL 2026.
Awards and Honours
T20 World Cup 2026
Winner and Player of the Tournament
ICC
Men’s Player of the Month for March 2026
IPL
Emerging Player of the Season (2013)
Team titles
T20 World Cup 2024 (squad), Asia Cup 2025, Asian Games gold 2026
Latest Form
Samson has been inconsistent since the World Cup. He was left out for a stretch on the England tour in July, and in two Asian Games matches, where India won gold, he scored nine runs. In the home T20I series against the West Indies, he opened with Abhishek Sharma and made 11 off 9 balls in the first match. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is waiting for a chance, which adds pressure at the top. For more, read our profiles of Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Sanju Samson?
He was born on 11 November 1994, so he is 31 as of October 2026 and turns 32 in November.
Which IPL team does Sanju Samson play for?
Chennai Super Kings, after a trade from Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2026.
How many T20I centuries has Sanju Samson scored?
Three, all in 2024: 111 against Bangladesh and 107 and 109* against South Africa.
Was Sanju Samson the Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup 2026?
Yes. He scored 321 runs, including 97* against the West Indies, 89 in the semi-final and 89 in the final.
What is Sanju Samson’s highest T20I score?
111 off 47 balls against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in October 2024.
Does Sanju Samson play ODIs?
He has played 16 ODIs for India with one century, but now plays mainly T20Is.
