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Sanju Samson Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career
Sanju Samson is a talented right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper who plays professional cricket for India. He made his international debut in 2021 and now represents the Rajasthan Royals. Samson has set several major records, including becoming the youngest wicketkeeper to score 2,000 runs in the IPL and the fastest double century in List A cricket. He is also the brand ambassador of the ISL team Kerala Blasters FC. Samson announced his marriage to Charulatha Ramesh in 2018. He owns a beautiful house in Trivandrum and has a net worth of approximately ₹36 crore.
Biography Details
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sanju Viswanath Samson |
| Nickname | Bappa Ji |
| Date of Birth | November 11, 1994 (Friday) |
| Age (2026) | 31 years |
| Birthplace | Pulluvila, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Role | Wicket-keeper Batter |
| Jersey Number | #9 (India), #11 (Rajasthan Royals / earlier) |
| School 1 | Rosary Senior Secondary School, Mukherjee Nagar, New Delhi |
| School 2 | St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram |
| College | Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Education | B.A. in English Literature |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Hobbies | Reading, Playing Football, Travelling |
| Favourite Food | Kappa (Tapioca) and Fish Curry |
| Favourite Cricketer | MS Dhoni, Brian Lara, AB de Villiers |
| Favourite Actor | Rajinikanth |
| Wife | Charulatha Remesh (married December 22, 2018) |
| Brother | Saly Samson (plays cricket, works in AG’s office) |
| Father | Viswanath Samson (Retired Delhi Police Constable) |
| Mother | Lijy Viswanath (Homemaker) |
| IPL Team (2026) | Chennai Super Kings |
| State Team | Kerala |
| Coach | Biju George |
| Net Worth (2026) | Approx. ₹80–86 crore |
Early Life
Sanju Samson was born on November 11, 1994, in Kerala to a Christian family. His father, Samson Vishwanath, previously worked as a police constable in the Delhi Police and also played football, representing Delhi in the Santosh Trophy. His mother, Ligi Vishwanath, takes care of the household. His elder brother, Sally Samson, played junior cricket for Kerala and now works in the AG’s office.
Samson spent his childhood in North Delhi and studied at Rosary School. He trained under coach Yashpal at DL DAV School. When he failed to make it to the Under-13 team, his father left his job with the Delhi Police. Subsequently, the family moved to Kerala to support his cricket career. In Kerala, he spent time at the Masters Cricket Club and later practiced under Biju George at the Medical College Ground. Samson completed his schooling from St. Joseph’s College in Thiruvananthapuram and later studied English Literature at Mar Ivanios College. Apart from cricket, he also wanted to become an IPS officer.
Sanju Samson was born on 11 November 1994 in Puluvila, a small coastal village near Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. He is a Scorpio by zodiac sign. His family is Malayali Christian. Sanju was born in Kerala, but was raised in Delhi as his father worked as a police constable in the Delhi Police. The family lived in a police residential colony in the GTB Nagar area of North Delhi.
Sanju Samson loves cars and bikes. He owns a Range Rover Sport, an Audi A6, a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and a BMW 5 Series. For two-wheelers, he rides a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. He has been spotted enjoying long rides on his bike during off-seasons.
Sanju Samson’s Education
Sanju Samson’s school life began in Delhi. He studied at Rosary Senior Secondary School in Mukherjee Nagar, New Delhi. At that time, his father was a constable in the Delhi Police, so the family lived in North Delhi. The situation changed when Sanju failed to get selected in the Delhi Under-13 team. His father took a big decision – he quit his police job and the entire family moved to Kerala, so that Sanju could focus fully on cricket there. In Kerala, Sanju joined St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram. He completed his high school education there. After completing school, he joined Mar Ivanios College in Thiruvananthapuram, where he studied English Literature and obtained his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. Interestingly, it was at Mar Ivanios College that Sanju met his future wife Charulatha Ramesh. They were in the same class. So college life was good for him both academically and personally! Sanju had also once said that apart from cricket, he always dreamed of becoming an IPS officer.
Sanju Samson’s Youth Cricket Journey
Sanju started playing cricket at a very young age. Even at the age of 13, people could consider him special. Here are some of his biggest youth cricket moments:
- In 2007, he led the Kerala Under-13 cricket team in the KSCA Inter-State Tournament. In just five matches, he scored 973 runs at an average of 108.11, including four centuries. He won the Player of the Tournament award.
- At just 14 years of age, he was selected for the Kerala senior team in the 2009–10 Ranji Trophy. This made him the youngest cricketer from Kerala to play in the Ranji Trophy.
- In the 2008–09 Vijay Merchant Trophy (Under-16), he scored a double century off just 138 balls against Goa. He became the second highest run-scorer in the tournament with 498 runs.
- He was the captain of the Kerala Under-16 and Under-19 teams.
- In June 2013, he was made the vice-captain of the India Under-19 team for the Top End series in Australia.
- In the 2013 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup in the UAE, he scored a century in the final against Pakistan, helping India win the tournament.
- In the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, he was India’s highest run-scorer with a best performance of 85 runs off 45 balls against Papua New Guinea.
Career Stats
Batting & Fielding
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 16 | 14 | 5 | 510 | 108 | 56.66 | 512 | 99.60 | 1 | 3 | 34 | 22 | 9 | 2 |
| T20Is | 51 | 43 | 4 | 995 | 111 | 25.51 | 675 | 147.40 | 3 | 3 | 78 | 56 | 33 | 7 |
| FC | 66 | 108 | 9 | 3888 | 211 | 39.27 | 6458 | 60.20 | 11 | 17 | 448 | 93 | 94 | 7 |
| List A | 128 | 119 | 16 | 3487 | 212* | 33.85 | 3865 | 90.21 | 3 | 19 | 293 | 109 | 125 | 15 |
| T20s | 313 | 296 | 34 | 7763 | 119 | 29.62 | 5678 | 136.72 | 6 | 49 | 642 | 357 | 161 | 34 |
Bowling
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 16 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| T20Is | 51 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| FC | 66 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 0 | – | – | – | 9.00 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| List A | 128 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 3.00 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20s | 313 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1/4 | 1/4 | 4.00 | 8.00 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sanju Samson Domestic Cricket Career
Sanju Samson began his domestic cricket career for Kerala and quickly rose through the ranks with his impressive and confident batting. He caught everyone’s attention during the 2011-12 Ranji Trophy, becoming one of the youngest Kerala players to score a century. His excellent shot selection and calm demeanor in difficult situations helped him stand out early in his career.
- In the 2013–14 Ranji Trophy season, he scored over 530 runs, securing his place as Kerala’s leading batsman.
- Samson also played for India A in several domestic competitions, where his consistent performances impressed the selectors.
- He made strong contributions in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, often ending the tournament as Kerala’s leading run-getter.
- His strong domestic record eventually opened doors for the Indian cricket team and later turned him into a popular choice during the IPL auctions.
- Sanju’s domestic journey has laid the foundation for his rise in professional cricket, proving him to be one of the most talented players from Kerala.
Source: Pinterest
International Career
- T20I Debut: He made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in July 2015.
- ODI Debut: He began his ODI journey by playing against Sri Lanka in July 2021.
- First ODI Century: He scored his first ODI century (108) against South Africa in 2023*.
- Match Experience: He has so far participated in 42 T20I and 16 ODI matches, impressing fans with his bold and aggressive batting style.
- Test Career: He is yet to step foot on the Test field, but fans are eagerly waiting to see him in white soon.
Sanju Samson Social Media Presence
Sanju Samson’s Salary Section And Net Worth
As of 2026, Sanju Samson’s total estimated net worth is around ₹80–86 crore. His income comes from multiple sources: IPL salary (his last RR contract was ₹18 crore/year, CSK deal is also reported to be lucrative), BCCI Grade C contract (₹1 crore per year + match fees), brand endorsements (Kerala Blasters FC, and several local brands), his Six Guns Sports Academy in Thiruvananthapuram, and social media income from 19M+ Instagram followers.
At the age of 7 already being a Super Rajni fan,,I told my parents ..See one day I will go and meet Rajni sir in his house…
After 21 years,that day has come when The Thalaivar invited me..☺️🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/FzuWWqJkif— Sanju Samson (@IamSanjuSamson) March 12, 2023
Here is a breakdown of Sanju Samson’s overall salary:
| Source of Income | Estimated Salary |
|---|---|
| Annual Income from BCCI | INR 1 Cr. + match fee |
| Annual IPL Salary | INR 18 Cr. |
| Monthly Income (BCCI + IPL) | INR 1.58 Cr. (approx.) |
Personal Life
Sanju married his longtime partner Charulatha Ramesh on December 22, 2018. The two have been together since their Mar Ivanios College days, and their journey reflects the strong connection and constant support they share.
Records And Achievements
- He has scored many important centuries and big innings in the IPL and domestic circuit.
- He has consistently performed for Kerala in the Ranji Trophy and other major tournaments.
- He has played a vital role in leading Rajasthan Royals to many memorable victories in the IPL.
- He is developing as a promising player for India in both T20I and ODI formats.
Read More: 6 Ball 6 Wickets in Cricket History – Full Record List & Details
Things You Probably Don’t Know About Sanju Samson
- Sanju grew up in a police residential colony in GTB Nagar, North Delhi – far from the coconut groves of Kerala.
- His full name is Sanju Vishwanath Samson. Most fans do not know the name ‘Vishwanath’.
- His nickname is ‘Bappa Ji’ – a friendly name given to him by his teammates.
- His father played football as a centre-forward for the Delhi Police team. He also represented Delhi in the Santosh Trophy.
- When Sanju was not selected for the Delhi Under-13 team, his father left his stable government job to go to Kerala to pursue Sanju’s cricketing dreams.
- He trained at two academies in Kerala – first at the Masters Cricket Club, then at the Medical College Ground in Thiruvananthapuram under coach Biju George.
- Sanju once said that if cricket had not been successful, he would have wanted to become an IPS officer.
- He did not like fielding in his early years. Later he became one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen in India.
- In 2019, he scored an unbeaten 212 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy – the highest score ever by a wicket-keeper in any List-A match.
- His favourite shot is the pull shot.
- He likes kappa (tapioca) and fish curry – classic Kerala food.
- His favourite cricketers are MS Dhoni, Brian Lara and AB de Villiers.
New Highlights and Awards
Sanju performs very well in 2024-2025. He played a vital role in India’s victories in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup. His centuries against South Africa helped the team win key matches.
In the Indian Premier League, he scored several half-centuries and also led his team as captain. He has won awards in domestic cricket and has been in the race for the Orange Cap in several seasons.
Sanju lives a simple and quiet life. He married Amrita Suresh in 2018. He focuses on fitness, discipline and his game. His journey from Kerala to the international stage shows hard work and perseverance. Today, he looks like a strong future player for India in limited-overs cricket with his timing, strength and consistency.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What inspired Sanju Samson to choose cricket?
Sanju drew inspiration from legends like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. His father, who once played football, also encouraged him a lot to make a future in cricket.
Q2. Did Sanju Samson try playing any other sport before joining cricket?
Yes, in the early years, he used to play football because of his father’s sporting background, but later he decided to focus only on cricket.
Q3. What is Sanju Samson’s highest score in T20 cricket?
His best T20 innings is 119 runs off 63 balls, which he scored in the IPL while representing Rajasthan Royals.
Q4. Has Sanju Samson ever been able to lead India in international cricket?
No, he has never led India in international games, but he has led Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
Q5. Who inspired Sanju Samson as a young cricketer?
He looked up to MS Dhoni for his calm finishing style and strong leadership qualities
