Career Timeline of Sanju Samson: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Sanju Samson made an impact.

Sanju Viswanath Samson is an Indian cricketer representing India in ODI and T20I formats. A T20 World Cup winner in both 2024 and 2026, he earned Player of the Tournament in 2026. He plays for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and represents Kerala in domestic cricket. He is considered one of the most impactful players of his generation.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2007: Member of Kerala U-13 Cricket Team

In 2007, Sanju Samson became a member of the U-13 cricket team of Kerala.

2008: Double Century in Vijay Merchant Trophy paved way to the Kerala squad

In 2008, A double-century in the 2008-09 Vijay Merchant Trophy paved way for Sanju Samson to be selected in the Kerala squad for the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy.

2008: Double Century in Vijay Merchant Trophy

In 2008, as a member of the Kerala U-16 team for the 2008-09 Vijay Merchant Trophy, Sanju Samson scored a double century off 138 balls against Goa.

2009: Named in Kolkata Knight Riders Player Pool

In 2009, Sanju Samson was named by Kolkata Knight Riders in its player pool ahead of 2009 Indian Premier League.

2009: Selection to Kerala Squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

In 2009, Sanju Samson was named in the Kerala squad for the 2009–10 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

2010: Selection in India U-19 Team

Sanju Samson's performance in the 2010-11 Cooch Behar Trophy earned him a spot in the India U-19 team.

October 2011: Twenty20 Debut

On October 16, 2011, Sanju Samson made his Twenty20 debut against Hyderabad in the 2011–12 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

November 2011: First-Class Debut

On November 3, 2011, Sanju Samson made his first-class debut for Kerala in the 2011–12 Ranji Trophy against Vidarbha.

2011: First-Class Debut for Kerala

In 2011, Sanju Samson made his first-class debut for the Kerala cricket team, marking an important step in his domestic career.

February 2012: List-A Debut

On February 23, 2012, Sanju Samson made his List-A debut against Andhra Pradesh in the 2011-12 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

June 2012: India U-19 Team Selection for ACC Under-19 Asia Cup

In June 2012, Sanju Samson earned a spot in the India U-19 team for the 2012 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup held in Malaysia.

2012: Signed by Kolkata Knight Riders

In 2012, Sanju Samson was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2012 Indian Premier League but did not get to play and was released ahead of the 2013 season.

April 2013: IPL Debut and Half-Century

On April 14, 2013, Sanju Samson made his IPL debut for Rajasthan against Kings XI Punjab after Dishant Yagnik's injury. In his second match, he scored 63 runs from 41 balls, becoming the then youngest player in IPL to score a half-century.

June 2013: Vice-Captain for India U-19 Team in Australia

In June 2013, Sanju Samson was named vice-captain of the India U-19 team for the 2013 Top End Under-19 Series in Australia.

August 2013: Half-Centuries in Youth Test Series Against Sri Lanka

From July to August 2013, Sanju Samson scored two half-centuries in India U-19's Youth Test series against Sri Lanka.

September 2013: Champions League Twenty20 Debut

On September 21, 2013, Sanju Samson made his Champions League Twenty20 debut for Rajasthan Royals against the Mumbai Indians and scored 54 off 47 balls, becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in CLT20.

2013: First-Class Century Against Himachal Pradesh

During the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy, Sanju Samson scored his maiden first-class century against Himachal Pradesh in 2013, accumulating 127 runs off 207 balls.

2013: Premier League Debut and Emerging Player Award

In 2013, Sanju Samson made his Premier League debut for Rajasthan Royals and won the Emerging Player of the Year award.

January 2014: Vice-Captain for Under-19 Cricket World Cup

In January 2014, the BCCI appointed Sanju Samson as vice-captain of team India for the 2014 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

March 2014: Selection for South Zone in Deodhar Trophy

In March 2014, Sanju Samson was named in South Zone's squad to play in the 2013–14 Deodhar Trophy.

August 2014: Selected for India's Squad Against England

In August 2014, Sanju Samson was selected to India's 17-man squad to play in 5 ODIs and a Twenty20 against England.

October 2014: Called to Twenty20 Team against West Indies

In October 2014, Sanju Samson was called to the Twenty20 team to play a solitary T20 against West Indies, which later got cancelled.

November 2014: Selection for South Zone in Deodhar Trophy

In November 2014, Sanju Samson was named in South Zone's squad to play in the 2014–15 Deodhar Trophy.

December 2014: Named in Probables List for 2015 Cricket World Cup

In December 2014, Sanju Samson was named in India's 30-member probables list for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

2014: Retained by Rajasthan Royals

In 2014, Sanju Samson was retained by Rajasthan ahead of the 2014 season.

2014: Vice-Captain of Indian U19 team

Sanju Samson was the vice-captain of the Indian U19 team for the 2014 U19 Cricket World Cup.

July 2015: T20I Debut Against Zimbabwe

In July 2015, Sanju Samson made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe at Harare after being drafted into the Indian squad as an injury replacement. He scored 36 runs, but India lost the match.

2015: Appointed Captain of Kerala for Ranji Trophy

In 2015, Sanju Samson was appointed as the captain of Kerala for the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy season. At the age of 20, he became the youngest Kerala player to captain the state in Ranji Trophy.

2016: Signed by Delhi Capitals

In 2016, Delhi Capitals signed Sanju Samson after Rajasthan was banned from the competition.

2016: Manager of Bharat Petroleum

In 2016, Sanju Samson worked as a manager of Bharat Petroleum in Thiruvananthapuram.

November 2017: Captain of Board President's XI

In November 2017, Sanju Samson was appointed as the captain of the Board President's XI, replacing an injured Naman Ojha, for a two-day tour match against Sri Lanka. He scored a century, ending the match in a draw.

2017: Maiden T20 Century

In 2017, Sanju Samson scored his maiden T20 century against Rising Pune Supergiants during the Indian Premier League.

2017: Leading Run-Scorer for Kerala in Ranji Trophy

In 2017, Sanju Samson was the leading run-scorer for Kerala in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy, with 627 runs from seven matches. He played a crucial innings against Saurashtra, scoring 68 and 175 to help his team secure a quarter-final berth.

2018: Return to Rajasthan Royals

In 2018, Sanju Samson returned to Rajasthan in the IPL auction.

2018: Started Six Guns Sports Academy

In 2018, Sanju Samson started a sports academy, namely "Six Guns Sports Academy", devoted to cricket and football training for young players in Thiruvananthapuram.

October 2019: Recalled to Indian Team for Bangladesh Series

In October 2019, Sanju Samson was recalled to the Indian team after four years as part of India's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against Bangladesh.

October 2019: Double Century in Vijay Hazare Trophy and National Call-up

In October 2019, during the 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Kerala and Goa, Sanju Samson scored a double century. This performance earned him a national call-up after four years.

November 2019: Added to Indian Team for West Indies Series

In November 2019, Sanju Samson was added to the Indian team for the T20I series against West Indies after an injury to Shikhar Dhawan.

December 2019: Selected to Play Against Sri Lanka

In December 2019, Sanju Samson was named in the Twenty20 squad to play against Sri Lanka. He featured in the third T20I but was dismissed after hitting a six.

2019: Unbeaten Double Century in Vijay Hazare Trophy

During the 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Sanju Samson scored an unbeaten 212 runs, becoming the sixth Indian to score a double-century in List A cricket and achieving the second-fastest double-century in the format.

October 2020: Named in India's T20I Squad for Australia Series

In October 2020, Sanju Samson was named in India's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against Australia.

November 2020: Added to India's ODI Squad for Australia Series

On November 9, 2020, Sanju Samson was added to India's One Day International (ODI) squad, also for their series against Australia.

2020: Leading Rajasthan to highest successful run chase

During the 2020 season, Sanju scored a 32-ball 74 against Chennai Super Kings. He led Rajasthan to the highest successful run chase in IPL history with 85 runs from 42 balls against Kings XI Punjab in the next match. He played his 100th IPL match, later in the season.

2020: Captain of Kerala for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

In 2020, Sanju Samson was named the captain of Kerala ahead of the 2020–21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

January 2021: Named Captain of Rajasthan Royals

In January 2021, Sanju Samson was named the captain of Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2021 Indian Premier League. He scored a century in his first match as captain, becoming the first IPL captain to achieve the feat.

June 2021: Named in ODI and T20I Squads for Sri Lanka Series

In June 2021, Sanju Samson was named in India's One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) squads for their series against Sri Lanka.

July 2021: ODI Debut Against Sri Lanka

On July 23, 2021, Sanju Samson made his ODI debut in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, scoring 46 runs.

November 2021: Retained by Rajasthan Royals

In November 2021, Sanju Samson was retained by Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2022 Indian Premier League. Samson surpassed Ajinkya Rahane to become the all-time leading run-scorer for Rajasthan during the season.

2021: Kerala Played Quarter-Finals Under Sanju's Captaincy

Under Sanju Samson's leadership, Kerala played the quarter-finals of the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and 2021-22 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

February 2022: Named in India's T20 Squad Against Sri Lanka

In February 2022, Sanju Samson was named in India's T20 squad for their series against Sri Lanka. He scored 39 and 18 in the subsequent matches.

June 2022: Named in India's Squad for First T20I Against England

In June 2022, Sanju Samson was named in India's squad for the first T20I of their series against England, but didn't feature in the starting eleven.

June 2022: Named in India's Squad for T20I Series Against Ireland

In June 2022, Sanju Samson was named in India's squad for their T20I series against Ireland. He scored his maiden half century in T20I, making 77 runs off 42 balls. His partnership with Deepak Hooda set a record for the second-highest partnership for any wicket for India.

July 2022: Maiden ODI Half-Century and Added to T20I Squad Against West Indies

In July 2022, Sanju Samson was named in India's ODI squad for their series against the West Indies and scored his maiden ODI half-century in the second match. Later that month, he was added to the T20I squad after KL Rahul tested positive for COVID-19.

September 2022: Captain of India A Squad Against New Zealand A

In September 2022, Sanju Samson was named captain of the India A squad playing a 3 ODI-series against New Zealand A cricket team. India won all matches, with Samson as the highest run-getter.

October 2022: Named in India's Squad Against South Africa for ODIs

In October 2022, Sanju Samson was named in India's squad against South Africa for three ODIs. He scored an unbeaten 86 in the first ODI.

December 2022: Selected for T20I series but Ruled Out Due to Injury

In December 2022, Sanju Samson was selected for the T20I series against Sri Lanka but scored only 5 runs in the first match and got ruled out due to a knee injury.

2022: Rajasthan Royals as Runners-Up

In 2022, Rajasthan went on to play the finals and finished as the runners-up under Sanju Samson's leadership.

June 2023: Selected for West Indies Tour

In June 2023, Sanju Samson was named in the ODI and T20I series for the West Indies tour. He scored 51 in the third ODI and was selected for the T20I series against Ireland.

November 2023: Selection for ODI series against South Africa and maiden century

In November 2023, Sanju Samson was selected in India's squad for the 3-match ODI series against South Africa. He scored his maiden century in the third ODI of the series, scoring 108 off 114 balls, contributing to India's series-winning victory by 78 runs. He was also awarded the man of the match.

December 2023: Maiden ODI Century

On December 21, 2023, Sanju Samson scored his maiden ODI century in the 3rd ODI against South Africa.

2023: Captain of Rajasthan Royals

In 2023, Sanju Samson played as a captain of Rajasthan Royals and scored 362 runs with 3 half centuries in season and finished 5th on points table.

April 2024: Selection for 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup

In April 2024, Sanju Samson was selected in India's 15-member squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup to be held in USA and West Indies, which they won.

October 2024: Named in T20I series against Bangladesh and maiden T20I century

In October 2024, Sanju Samson was named in India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. In the third match of the series, he scored his maiden T20I century, registering 111 runs off 47 balls and contributing to India's victory. During the innings, he set multiple records, including the second-fastest century by an Indian batter in T20Is, the fastest fifty by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter against Bangladesh, and the highest individual score by an Indian batter against Bangladesh in T20Is.

November 2024: Most centuries in a calendar year in T20 Internationals

On November 15, 2024, by scoring his 3rd T20 century against South Africa, Sanju became the batsman with the most centuries in a calendar year in T20 Internationals, which is 3.

2024: Rajasthan Royals performances and Qualifier 2

In 2024, Rajasthan Royals won 8 matches out of their first 9 matches under Sanju Samson's leadership. He individually scored 531 runs out of 16 matches with 5 half centuries, which is considered the best season for him. In this season, Rajasthan Royals ended up the league stage at 3rd on points table, and went on to Qualifier 2 but defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad by 36 runs.

2024: T20 World Cup Winner

Sanju Samson won the T20 World Cup in 2024 as part of the India national cricket team.

November 15, 2025: Traded to Chennai Super Kings

On November 15, 2025, Sanju Samson was officially traded to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the IPL 2026 season. In this high-profile trade, CSK traded away Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to RR to acquire Samson.

March 2026: First 50+ score in T20 World Cup and Player of the Match award

On March 1, 2026, against the West Indies in a deciding Super 8 match during the 2026 T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson hit his first 50+ score in the competition, hitting an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls and hitting 12 fours and 4 sixes as India scored 199/5 in 19.2 overs, successfully chasing down the target of 196 set by the West Indies, which was the highest target successfully chased by India in T20 World Cups. He won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning knock.

March 2026: Player of the Match in ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final

On March 5, 2026, in the semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson scored a rapid 89 runs off 42 balls against England, helping India post a massive total of 253 in the knockout stage. His innings played a key role in setting up a challenging target for England. Samson was adjudged the Player of the Match, marking his second consecutive award following his performance against the West Indies.

2026: T20 World Cup Winner and Player of the Tournament

In 2026, Sanju Samson won the T20 World Cup for the India national cricket team and was also named Player of the Tournament.

2026: Player of the Tournament at T20 World Cup

In the finals of the T20 World Cup 2026, played in Ahmedabad, Sanju Samson scored 89 of 46 balls against New Zealand. With that he became the 3rd highest run-scoring batsman in the tournament, with a total of 321 runs. Subsequently, Samson was named as the Player of the tournament, despite only featuring in 5 games.