How Kerala is celebrating Sanju Samson’s selection into the 2024 T20 World Cup squad

By K.R. Nayar
From Kochi

Kochi. Sanju Samson’s selection for the 2024 T20 World Cup, starting in the USA and West Indies, is virtually a celebration in Kerala. This news has filled every Keralite with pride. I witnessed the joy across the state as I arrived in Kochi on the day the news broke about his selection. It is the biggest news in the state, and everyone is now looking forward to the World Cup, hoping to see Sanju, as they affectionately call him, in action.

Display of Sanju Samson's selection in Kerala's leading newspaper Malayala Manorama

Everywhere, discussions revolve around whether he will keep wickets or play solely as a batsman. Speculation suggests that both wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and Samson will be part of the playing eleven, with Sanju possibly batting at the No.1 slot to provide a quick start.

Right from outside the Kochi airport, the presence of Sanju is evident, with advertisements featuring him lining the roads. Almost all Malayalam newspapers have Sanju’s selection as the banner headline of the day. Malayala Manorama, Kerala’s leading newspaper, had the headline “Here is our Sanju,” with the inside story titled “Malayali (as Keralites are called) for India.”

Malayali for India states one of the headlines 

Some believe that Sanju's selection will guide India to lift the T20 World Cup. They cite the fact that every time India has won a World Cup, there has been a Malayali involved. In 1983, during the 50-over World Cup-winning, Sunil Valson was part of the squad, and in the 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, the Indian team had S. Sreesanth.

 

What has garnered admiration for Sanju is his consistent performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League, which has earned him a spot in the squad. Cricket lovers in the state believe that the 29-year-old, who has played only 25 T20 internationals and 16 ODIs so far, should have played more matches considering his enormous talent.

 

Many from the state have witnessed Sanju's hard work and dedication during the ongoing IPL. He has been training rigorously at different venues in Kerala for the past eight months, while also ensuring he played domestic cricket for Kerala without a break this season. People in Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram have actually witnessed his training sessions.

 

Yours sincerely interviews Sanju Samson during an Under-19 World Cup

I was fortunate to report on many of his brilliant knocks, including those in the Under-19 World Cup. During an interview, I had asked him about the power behind his shots, and he attributed that to his genes, mentioning that his father, Viswanath, was a well-built man and a former police constable and football player.

 

When asked about his confidence to hit sixes, he responded, “I always remind myself of my name. Samson is the strongest man in the world (according to the Bible). I keep reminding myself of that, and that I am very strong and I can hit sixes.”

 

India won the 2007 T20 World Cup when Sreesanth took the catch of Misbah Ul Haq at fine leg. After that catch, Indian pacer Irfan Pathan had remarked: “Sreesanth did not catch the ball, he caught the World Cup.” Keralites then had jokingly remarked that Misbah scooped the ball not aware of the famous saying that ‘In every corner of the world, there will be a Malayali!’

 

If India goes on to win the 2024 World Cup with a six from Samson, it will be the icing on the cake for Keralites who deeply love Sanju, their hero.