Dubbed as ‘The next big thing’ Sanju Samson is one of the most gifted players across India. A fine wicket-keeper batter, having a sound technique, Samson made a name for himself in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2014, where he finished as the sixth-highest run-getter in the tournament.

Samson made his First-Class debut for Kerala as a 17-year-old in 2012, and some good batting performances in his debut season earned him a slot in the Under-19 Asia Cup in the very same year. However, the tournament was a disaster for Samson, as he could only amass 14 runs from the three innings that he played.

The next Ranji season was a special one for the young prodigy, as Samson scored two centuries and a half-century on his way to amassing 530 runs. The special thing about the season was the fact that most of his runs came in tough seaming conditions and under pressure situations.

At the start of the 2015/16 Ranji Trophy season, Samson was appointed Kerala’s new captain, thus becoming the youngest captain to lead a Ranji Trophy side in an entire tournament. In the very same year, Samson was given the opportunity to make his T20I debut against Zimbabwe. He scored 19 of 24 deliveries and struggled to time the ball properly.

In August 2018, Samson was suspended by the Kerala Cricket Association for showing dissent to their skipper, Sachin Baby. 

Samson continued his great domestic form in the 2019 Vijay Hazare Trophy. The dashing player scored his maiden double century and, in the process, garnered praise from the cricketing fraternity across India. He also shared a mammoth 338-run partnership along with Sachin Baby, and to date, it is the highest partnership recorded in a List-A game.

Samson knocked on the doors of the national selectors consistently, and eventually returned to India’s T20I squad in 2020, but failed to cement his place in the side.

In the Indian Premier League, Samson has been one of the most consistent performers for Rajasthan Royals. He was spotted early by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012. The franchise awarded him a contract to play in IPL 2013, but the young man could not make it into the playing XI. He showcased his talents with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL next year, and the leadership of Rahul Dravid helped him grow as a batsman. Dravid spoke highly of Samson and recognised his potential as one for the future of Indian cricket.

When Rajasthan Royals were banned from IPL for two seasons, Samson followed his mentor Dravid to the Delhi team and played well for them in the IPL 2016 and 2017, scoring 291 runs and 386 runs, respectively.

After making a comeback for the Rajasthan Royals in 2018, Samson has amassed 441, 342, and 375 runs in IPL 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. 

Sanju Samson had a stellar 2024 IPL season, leading the Rajasthan Royals both as captain and their key batter. He amassed 531 runs in 15 matches at an average of 44.25 and a strike rate of 149.16, proving to be RR's backbone. His standout knock came against the Delhi Capitals, where he smashed an unbeaten 86 off 46 balls, guiding RR to a crucial victory. Samson's leadership saw RR finish third in the league stage with 17 points, securing a playoff berth. However, despite his consistent performances, RR fell short in Qualifier 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, missing out on a spot in the final. 

In April 2024, he was announced in the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup. However, Sanju couldn’t find a spot in the playing 11 throughout the tournament, being a backup keeper for the team. 

Soon after the World Cup victory, Samson found himself as a permanent member of the Indian T20I as players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma decided to hang up their boots. The Kerala batter first established himself as an opener on the tour of Zimbabwe. His form peaked during the home T20I series against Bangladesh in 2024. In the final match, he scored a blistering 111 runs off just 47 balls, marking his maiden T20I century and the second-fastest by an Indian in T20Is. His 173-run partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav propelled India to a massive total of 297, leading to a 133-run victory and a series clean sweep. During it, he smashed five maximums in an over off Rishad Hossain. 

Samson continued his stellar form in the four-match T20I series against South Africa. In the first T20I, he scored 107 off 50 balls. He further cemented his dominance in the fourth T20I, with an unbeaten 109 off 56 balls.

Recognising his leadership and batting prowess, RR retained Samson for the 2025 season, but the captain was seen warming up the bench due to injuries.

(As of August 2025)