Sanju Samson's World Cup
When BCCI announced the Indian team for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February-March, anxious Malayalees and sports enthusiasts searched frantically for one name — Sanju Samson. Although Sanju was a member of India's title-winning 2024 World Cup squad in the Caribbean, he was robbed of further chances in 2025 despite proving his mettle on more than one occasion. His return to the team for the T20 World Cup proves to be more than meets the eye. It has been about a decade since Sanju started wearing the Indian shirt. Even stars who were called up for national duty almost two years back are now regulars in the team.
Even under different coaches, Sanju remained a déclassé cricket star for the selectors. Even the Malayali cricketer's vital centuries, whenever offered a chance, failed to impress those within the Indian coaching squad. When Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from the shorter formats, many expected Sanju to make his spot permanent in the team, but chief coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar had other plans. They rooted for Shubman Gill to become the captain in all three formats.
Sanju’s one six against Marco Janssen on the fourth ball of his innings in Ahmedabad served as a befitting reply to the selectors. The Indian team for the World Cup was announced after the match in Ahmedabad. Sanju was made the opening player, replacing Shubman Gill, who leads India in Tests and ODIs. Although Ishaan Kishan is also in the team as a replacement wicketkeeper, Sanju will certainly get the priority. Ishaan, who had been out of the Indian team for more than two years, made his return following his terrific display in domestic cricket. With this, another wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma, had to be dropped.
For Sanju, if not now, then never. If he can play his best position in the T20 format as an opener, it would also cement his position in the team. Sanju has already joined the Chennai Super Kings after leaving the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Malayali star Sreesanth played and performed decisively in the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ODI World Cup in 2011. In 2024, Sanju participated in the title win but was not included in the playing eleven. The battle ahead will be intense for India to retain their title, while the World Cup will also serve as a stage for the Malayali cricketer to upend his career.