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March 13 2026. The T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad. India vs New Zealand. Sanju Samson walked to the crease and scored 89 off 42 balls. India won. He was named Player of the Tournament.
Nobody deserves it more than Samson. He played his first T20I in 2015 and then waited four and a half years for his second. Called up and dropped. Called up and dropped. He scored big in the IPL season after season and the India door kept closing on him. Others played. He watched.
Then in the T20 World Cup 2026 it all came together. 321 runs in 5 matches. A strike rate of 199.38. Three consecutive fifties in the knockout stage. 97 not out against West Indies. 89 against England in the semi-final. 89 in the final against New Zealand. Player of the Tournament.
He is 31 years old. Getting to that moment took him ten years.
Sanju Samson Biography: Quick Profile
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sanju Viswanath Samson |
| Date of Birth | November 11, 1994 |
| Age | 31 years (as of June 2026) |
| Birthplace | Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| Hometown | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (grew up in Delhi before moving to Kerala) |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 80 kg |
| Role | Right-handed top-order batter & wicketkeeper |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Does not bowl |
| Jersey Number | 8 (India & CSK) |
| Current IPL Team | Chennai Super Kings (IPL 2026) |
| Previous IPL Teams | Kolkata Knight Riders (2012), Rajasthan Royals (2013–2015 & 2018–2025), Delhi Daredevils (2016–2017) |
| IPL Salary / Transfer | Traded to Chennai Super Kings from Rajasthan Royals in November 2025 in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran |
| Domestic Team | Kerala |
| BCCI Central Contract | Grade A |
| Wife | Charulatha Remesh (Married on December 22, 2018) |
| Son | Vivaan Samson (Born in October 2021) |
| Religion | Christian |
| @sanjusamson | |
| Major Achievement | ICC Player of the Month – March 2026 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Family
Sanju Samson was born in Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. His father Viswanath Samson is from Kerala but worked as a police constable in Delhi which is why Sanju grew up in the capital. His mother Lijy Samson is a homemaker.
He grew up in Delhi and took his first cricket lessons there. He showed talent early and moved to Thiruvananthapuram in his early teens to get better coaching and play in the Kerala domestic circuit. Within a few years he was representing Kerala at age-group level.
He married Charulatha Remesh on December 22 2018 in a ceremony in Kerala. Charulatha has been with him through all the years of IPL success and international disappointment. Their son Vivaan was born in October 2021.
Education
Sanju Samson studied at St. Jude’s English Medium School in Thiruvananthapuram before his cricket career took over. He passed his Class 10 examinations from Kerala while also playing state-level cricket. After that cricket became his full-time focus.
Caste and Religion
Sanju Samson is a Christian from Kerala. He has spoken openly about his faith in interviews. Kerala has a significant Christian population and Samson’s family background reflects that community. He does not speak specifically about caste in public interviews.
Early Cricket Career
Samson represented India at the Under-19 Asia Cup in 2011. He was vice-captain of the India Under-19 team for the 2014 Under-19 World Cup. His first-class debut for Kerala came in 2011.
He made his List A debut for Kerala in 2012 and scored runs immediately. His timing and power stood out.
Also Read- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Biography 2026 — Age, Parents, Records, IPL Career and Full Story
IPL Journey — Every Team and Every Season
Kolkata Knight Riders (2012)
Samson was in the KKR squad but did not play a single game. He was released before the 2013 season.
Rajasthan Royals (2013)
His first proper IPL season. He made his debut for RR against Kings XI Punjab on April 14 2013. In his second match he scored 63 off 41 balls and became the then-youngest player in IPL history to score a half-century. He won the Emerging Player of the Year award for the 2013 season with 206 runs.
Rajasthan Royals (2014 to 2015)
Two more seasons with RR building his reputation as one of the most talented young batters in the competition.
Delhi Daredevils (2016 to 2017)
Rajasthan Royals were banned from the IPL for two seasons after being found guilty in a betting and match-fixing probe. Samson moved to Delhi Daredevils. In 2017 he scored his maiden T20 century against Rising Pune Supergiants.
Rajasthan Royals (2018 to 2025)
He returned to RR in 2018 when they came back to the competition. His time at RR from 2018 to 2025 was the most productive period of his career. In 2020 he scored an unbeaten 102 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. In 2021 he was named captain of RR. In 2022 he led RR to the IPL final where they lost to Gujarat Titans by 7 wickets. In 2024 he scored 531 runs and led RR to the playoffs again.
He scored three IPL centuries for RR. He scored over 3934 runs for the franchise before leaving. He was retained for 18 crore by RR ahead of the 2025 mega auction.
Chennai Super Kings (IPL 2026)
On November 15 2025 RR officially traded Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings. CSK gave up Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to get Samson. It was one of the biggest trades in IPL history. Jadeja going back to RR and Samson going to CSK caused enormous discussion across Indian cricket.
In IPL 2026 at CSK Samson was the backbone of their batting. He scored 87 not out against Delhi Capitals in a match-winning innings. He was described by RR captain Ruturaj Gaikwad as the backbone of CSK’s batting.
T20 World Cup 2026 — Player of the Tournament
The T20 World Cup 2026 was Samson’s tournament.
He was called up to the Indian squad under new captain Shreyas Iyer. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav were not involved. Samson opened the batting.
Quarter-final vs West Indies — 97 not out off 50 balls
India needed to chase 196 against West Indies in the Super 8. Samson came in and scored 97 not out off 50 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes. It was the highest target India had ever successfully chased in T20 World Cups. He won the Player of the Match award.
Semi-final vs England — 89 off 42 balls
India posted 253 for 7 against England. Samson scored 89 off 42 balls. It was one of the most destructive innings in a T20I semi-final in history. England posted 246 in response and still lost.
Final vs New Zealand — 89 off 42 balls
In the final Samson scored 89 again off 42 balls. He became the second Indian batter after Virat Kohli to score back-to-back fifties in knockout stages. India won. Samson was named Player of the Tournament with 321 runs in 5 matches at a strike rate of 199.38.
He was named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March 2026.
India vs Ireland 2026 — A Difficult Series
Then came Ireland in Belfast in June 2026.
1st T20I — Samson scored 5 runs. He was bowled on the first delivery he faced in the match by Jai Moondra, a debutant, who got a length ball to angle away and find the inside edge onto the stumps.
2nd T20I — Samson scored 0. He was dismissed for a golden duck off the very first ball of India’s innings. Again Jai Moondra. Lbw first ball. Samson reviewed it. The tracker showed the ball hitting leg stump.
In two matches against Ireland Samson scored 5 runs total. The same bowler dismissed him twice in a row off the first ball each time. Ireland won the series 2-0. It was a difficult period after the World Cup high.
He heads into the England series with scores of 5 and 0 in his last two innings.
Sanju Samson Career Stats — All Formats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 60 | 1,426 | 32.40 | 148.60 | 111* | 3 | 8 |
| ODIs | 23 | 687 | 45.80 | 99.56 | 86* | 0 | 5 |
| Tests | 2 | 87 | 43.50 | — | 52 | 0 | 1 |
| First-Class | 45 | 2,847 | 40.67 | — | 212* | — | — |
| List A | 87 | 3,041 | 38.00 | — | 212* | — | — |
| IPL | 151 | ~4,350 | ~30.00 | 136.00 | 119 | 3 | ~30 |
Career Highlights
| Achievement | Record |
|---|---|
| International Matches | 85 |
| International Runs | 2,200 |
| International Centuries | 3 |
| International Half-centuries | 14 |
| Highest International Score | 111* |
| IPL Matches | 151 |
| IPL Runs | ~4,350 |
| IPL Centuries | 3 |
| IPL Highest Score | 119 |
Note:
*denotes Not Out. Figures marked with~are approximate based on the latest available records for IPL 2026.
Records and Achievements
T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament — 321 runs in 5 matches at strike rate 199.38.
Player of the Match in T20 World Cup 2026 quarter-final vs West Indies — 97 not out off 50 balls.
Second Indian batter after Virat Kohli to score back-to-back fifties in T20 World Cup knockout stages.
Most centuries in a calendar year in T20 Internationals — 3 centuries in 2024.
Highest score by an Indian in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A) — 212 not out against Goa in 2019. The sixth time an Indian scored a double-century in List A cricket and the second-fastest double-century in the format.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March 2026.
Led Rajasthan Royals to the IPL 2022 final — their first final since 2008.
Youngest player to score an IPL half-century at the time of his 2013 innings for Rajasthan Royals.
Emerging Player of the Year at IPL 2013.
Sanju Samson Wife — Charulatha Remesh
Sanju Samson married Charulatha Remesh on December 22 2018 in a wedding ceremony in Kerala. Charulatha is from Thiruvananthapuram and the two have known each other for years before the wedding. The ceremony was attended by family and close friends.
Charulatha has stayed largely out of the public eye, which Samson has respected. She appeared in his social media posts celebrating the T20 World Cup 2026 win.
Their son Vivaan Samson was born in October 2021. Samson has posted photos of Vivaan on his Instagram and spoken in interviews about how fatherhood has changed his perspective on cricket and life.
Also Read- Rinku Singh Biography 2026 — Age, Family, Father, IPL Journey, Wife, Net Worth and Records
Sanju Samson Net Worth
Sanju Samson’s net worth is estimated at approximately 50 to 60 crore rupees as of 2026. His income comes from his CSK IPL salary, his BCCI Grade A contract which earns him approximately 5 crore per year, and multiple brand endorsement deals. His endorsements include Star Sports, MRF and several Kerala-based brands. He owns multiple properties in Kerala and has been involved in a fishing boat business in Thiruvananthapuram run by his father-in-law.
Sanju Samson Height
Sanju Samson is 5 feet 11 inches tall — approximately 180 centimetres. He weighs approximately 80 kg. His height is above average for an Indian cricketer and gives him the reach to play the straight drive and the slog-sweep without getting cramped for room. His physique has developed significantly since his early RR years as his fitness routine has become more structured.
Sanju Samson Instagram
Sanju Samson’s official Instagram handle is @sanjusamson. He has over 7 million followers as of June 2026. He posts regularly during the IPL season and around international series. He shares personal moments with Charulatha and Vivaan, training content and match celebrations. His Instagram grew significantly after the T20 World Cup 2026 where his Player of the Tournament performance brought him a completely new level of national attention.
Sanju Samson IPL 2026 — Chennai Super Kings
IPL 2026 was Samson’s first season at Chennai Super Kings after the trade from Rajasthan Royals in November 2025. CSK gave up Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. That is how highly they valued him.
At CSK he opened the batting and was described by ESPNcricinfo as batting on a different level in the second half of the season. His match-winning 87 not out against Delhi Capitals was his best individual innings of IPL 2026. Ruturaj Gaikwad called him the backbone of CSK’s batting. CSK’s analyst Aaron Finch said Samson had been batting on a different level after a quiet start to the season.
FANTASY
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Q: How old is Sanju Samson?
A: Sanju Samson is 31 years old as of June 2026. He was born on November 11 1994 in Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Q: Who is Sanju Samson’s wife?
A: Sanju Samson married Charulatha Remesh on December 22 2018 in Kerala. They have a son named Vivaan who was born in October 2021.
Q: What IPL team does Sanju Samson play for in 2026?
A: Sanju Samson plays for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. He was traded from Rajasthan Royals to CSK on November 15 2025. CSK gave RR Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in exchange.
Q: What was Sanju Samson’s performance in T20 World Cup 2026?
A: Sanju Samson was named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He scored 321 runs in 5 matches at a strike rate of 199.38. He scored 97 not out against West Indies, 89 against England in the semi-final and 89 against New Zealand in the final. India won the title.
Q: What are Sanju Samson’s T20I career stats?
A: Sanju Samson has played 60 T20Is and scored 1426 runs at an average of 32.40 and a strike rate of 148.60. He has scored 3 centuries and 8 fifties. His highest score is 111 not out.
Q: How many IPL runs does Sanju Samson have?
A: Sanju Samson has scored over 4350 runs in 151 IPL matches at a strike rate of approximately 136. He has scored 3 IPL centuries and over 30 half-centuries. His highest IPL score is 119.
Q: What is Sanju Samson’s net worth?
A: Sanju Samson’s net worth is estimated at approximately 50 to 60 crore rupees as of 2026. His income includes his CSK IPL salary, a BCCI Grade A contract worth approximately 5 crore per year and multiple brand endorsements.
Q: What is Sanju Samson’s highest score in domestic cricket?
A: Sanju Samson scored 212 not out for Kerala against Goa in the 2019 to 2020 Vijay Hazare Trophy. It is the highest List A score by an Indian at the time and the second-fastest double-century in List A cricket history.
Q: How tall is Sanju Samson?
A: Sanju Samson is 5 feet 11 inches tall — approximately 180 centimetres.
Q: How did Sanju Samson perform in India vs Ireland 2026?
A: Sanju Samson had a very poor series against Ireland. He scored 5 in the first T20I and a golden duck off the first ball in the second T20I. The same bowler Jai Moondra dismissed him in both matches. India lost the series 2-0. It was a sharp contrast to his Player of the Tournament performance at the World Cup just weeks earlier.
Q: Which state does Sanju Samson play domestic cricket for?
A: Sanju Samson plays domestic cricket for Kerala in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.