Sanju Samson’s cricket journey has been about working hard and meeting the right people at the right time. He still remembers a day during a Duleep Trophy match in Andhra when his teammate Suryakumar Yadav told him he would open the batting in all seven upcoming matches. For a batter, such confidence from the captain was very important.
But things didn’t start well for Samson. On a tour to Sri Lanka, he got out for zero runs (a duck) in his first two games. He began to feel disappointed, but then Gautam Gambhir, whom he calls “Gauti bhai,” noticed something was wrong. Gambhir asked him what was bothering him. After hearing Samson’s worries, Gambhir said something Samson has never forgotten: “I will only remove you from the team if you score 21 ducks.”
This trust from Gambhir gave Samson the motivation to keep trying. In 2024, Samson finally shined, scoring three centuries in T20 international matches — one at home against Bangladesh and two in South Africa. This was a record no other player has achieved in one year. His performances showed that the faith his mentors had in him was right.
However, even as Samson’s international career grows, his future in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is uncertain. He has had a falling out with the Rajasthan Royals, the team he has led and played for since 2013 (except during a suspension period). Reports say he has asked the team to trade or release him.
People close to Samson say he wants to leave, but IPL rules say only the team can decide what happens. Rajasthan Royals are looking at options, but because Samson is very valuable (worth ₹18 crore), it is hard to find a team to take him. Some teams like Chennai Super Kings are interested, but no deal has been made yet.
For now, Rajasthan Royals hold the power. But the big question is: can the team do well if their captain doesn’t want to stay? The next few weeks will be important not only for Samson’s IPL career but also for the team’s future.
