Sanju Samson: biography, stats & profile

Sanju Samson is an India wicketkeeper-batter who bats right-handed. He was born on 11 November 1994 in Pulluvila, Vizhinjam, Trivandrum. He has played IPL cricket for Rajasthan Royals and was traded to Chennai Super Kings in 2025.

He is best known as an attacking top-order batter in T20 cricket. He was part of India’s 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup winning teams and was named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 edition.

Early life and domestic career

Samson made his first-class debut for Kerala in 2011, after making an impact in junior cricket. In 2013–14 he scored a career-best 211 in his first match of the season, against Assam.

He scored an unbeaten 212 in the 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy and was named Kerala’s captain ahead of the 2020–21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

International career

Samson made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe at Harare on 19 July 2015, after a July 2015 call-up as an injury replacement for Ambati Rayudu. His ODI debut came against Sri Lanka on 23 July 2021.

His maiden ODI century came in the third ODI against South Africa on 21 December 2023. His maiden T20I century, 111 off 47 balls, followed in the third match of the October 2024 series against Bangladesh.

He was named India’s T20 World Cup squad wicketkeeper alongside Rishabh Pant. At the 2026 T20 World Cup, the ICC named him Player of the Tournament, and announced its team of the tournament on 9 March.

IPL

Samson made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals against Kings XI Punjab on 14 April 2013 and won the Emerging Player award that season. Rajasthan Royals named him captain in January 2021, and he scored a century in his first match in charge, the first IPL captain to do so.

He led Rajasthan Royals to the 2022 IPL final, where they finished runners-up to Gujarat Titans. On 15 November 2025 he was traded to Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2026 season, with Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran going the other way.

Playing style

ESPNcricinfo describes Samson as an attacking top-order batter and wicketkeeper.

Career stats at a glance

In ODIs, Samson has played 16 matches and scored 510 runs at an average of 56.67 and a strike rate of 99.61, with one hundred and three fifties. His highest score is 108.

In T20Is he has 861 runs from 42 matches at an average of 25.32 and a strike rate of 152.39, including three hundreds and two fifties. His best is 111.

In the IPL he has 4,704 runs from 176 matches at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of 139.05, with three hundreds, 25 fifties and a highest score of 119.

Recent form and news

On 22 October 2026, Samson hit 67 off 33 balls, with eight fours and four sixes, as India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the opening T20I of a five-match series in Christchurch. He and opening partner Abhishek Sharma added 93 runs in the powerplay.

By MaidanBeat Desk · updated 27 Oct 2026