Kerala is proud of you, Sanju Samson

A MALAYALI has brought laurels to the country.

Sanju Samson has become one of the brightest sporting icons from Kerala, bringing pride and recognition to the state through his remarkable achievements in cricket. 

Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Samson’s journey from a talented youngster to an international cricketer represents dedication, discipline and passion. 

Samson’s elegant batting style and fearless stroke play have made him a favourite among cricket fans across India. 

Whether playing for the national team or leading the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, he has consistently displayed confidence and leadership. 

His performances have inspired many young cricketers in Kerala to dream big and pursue cricket professionally.

For a state traditionally known more for football and athletics, his success in cricket has opened new doors for aspiring players. Youngsters across the state now look up to him as proof that with talent and perseverance, international recognition is possible.

In many ways, Sanju Samson has brought laurels and visibility to Kerala on the global cricketing stage. His achievements remind the people of Kerala that talent from the state can shine anywhere in the world. 

As his career continues to grow, Malayalis everywhere hope he will achieve even greater milestones and continue to make Kerala proud.

Sanju Samson has written his name into T20 World Cup folklore with a tournament for the ages, becoming only the second player in history to register three consecutive scores of 80 or more in a single edition of the competition. 

The Indian star joins Sri Lanka legend Mahela Jayawardene, who achieved the rare feat during the 2010 T20 World Cup.

He was dropped in the early stages of the tournament, but made a strong comeback when it mattered the most and helped India lift the World Cup. Delivering in clutch moments, he played crucial knocks that proved vital in India’s historic triumph

Samson’s incredible run included 97 in the Super 8 stage, 89 in the semi-final, and 89 in the final, performances that powered India deep into the tournament and firmly established him as one of the standout players of the competition.

India’s decision to bring Samson back into the playing eleven turned out to be one of the defining calls of the tournament.

When Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was earlier asked about Samson’s inclusion in the playing eleven, he responded with a sarcastic laugh. He asked whom he should drop to bring him in. The wicketkeeper batter has now answered that question in the best possible way.

In the final against New Zealand on Sunday, Samson produced a breath-taking 89 from just 46 balls, smashing 5 fours and 8 towering sixes. His fearless hitting set the tone for India’s massive total and broke several long-standing tournament records. He had chances to push for a century on more than one occasion, but Samson always chose the team first, continuing to attack instead of slowing down for personal milestones.

Samson’s sensational knock in the final and his overall tournament performance rewrote the record books.

Highest score in a T20 World Cup final:

Samson’s 89 surpassed the previous record of 85 held by Marlon Samuels in 2016 and Kane Williamson in 2021.

Most runs for India in a single T20 World Cup edition:
He finished with 321 runs, breaking Virat Kohli’s iconic 2014 tally of 319 runs.

Most sixes in a single T20 World Cup edition:
His eight sixes in the final took his tournament total to 24 sixes, the most by any player in a single edition.

For Samson, this tournament will be remembered as the one where everything clicked. From dominating the Super 8 stage to delivering in the semi-final and final, he produced match-defining innings when India needed them the most.

Best wishes for Sanju to scale new heights.