Team India star Sanju Samson was felicitated by Kerala Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan following the side’s successful T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. The opening batter was invited to the Chief Minister’s residence, Cliff House, on Monday, March 16.
The 31-year-old was dressed in traditional attire for the felicitation. The Kerala CM presented the local lad with a special memento with the message, ‘We salute Sanju Viswanath Samson’. It also includes the wicketkeeper-batter’s scores of the virtual quarterfinal in the Super 8 (97* off 50 vs West Indies), semifinal (89 off 42 vs England), and final (89 off 46 vs New Zealand).
Watch the video of the Kerala CM honoring Samson for his superlative performances in the ICC event:
Sanju Samson was benched for Team India’s opening T20 World Cup 2026 match. The team management backed Ishan Kishan to be the wicketkeeper and Abhishek Sharma’s opening partner. Questions were raised about his place in the squad after he managed just 46 runs in the five-match home T20I series against New Zealand ahead of the showpiece event.
However, Samson silenced his naysayers by delivering three consecutive match-winning knocks in the ICC event. Despite playing just five games, he finished as India’s highest run-scorer (321 runs at a strike rate of 199.38) and was declared the Player of the Tournament.
Samson is now set to embark on a new journey in the upcoming 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was traded to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the season.
“I felt my time in the team was over” – Sanju Samson breaks silence on exit from RR
Sanju Samson recently opened up on ending his association with the Rajasthan-based franchise. He revealed that he made the decision as he realized his time with RR was over.
The former RR captain said during a media interaction (via Hindustan Times):
“This is the first time I will play against the Rajasthan Royals, but I don’t let emotions rule me on the field. I left Rajasthan Royals because I felt my time in the team was over. Even if we come up against them now, I will play my best cricket.”
Samson will be up against his old team as CSK face RR at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on March 30, in their opening game of IPL 2026.
Edited by Aditya Suketu Desai
