Sanju Samson’s World Cup Glory Rooted in Father’s Sacrifice

Ray Sports Web Desk: Sanju Samson scripted a remarkable comeback in the World Cup, emerging as one of India’s standout performers after initially struggling to secure a place in the playing XI following the Namibia match. Many had predicted that his campaign might end there, but he proved otherwise with a fairytale return. His blistering performance for India in the must-win match against West Indies signalled his determination to stay and fight.
Behind Sanju’s resilience stands a man who preferred to remain in the shadows—his father, Samson Viswanath—who sacrificed his own career to help his son pursue cricket. Samson, who represented Delhi in the 1993–94 Santosh Trophy, had joined the Delhi Police as a constable through football. However, he chose not to appear for the head constable examination, which would have required six months of training and interrupted his sons’ cricket coaching. Eventually, he opted for early retirement to focus on nurturing Sanju’s cricketing career.
“I have always been a huge admirer of Sachin and Dravid, and I wanted my sons to become cricketers,” Samson said. “Sanju wasn’t getting opportunities in Delhi, so I moved the family back to Kerala. There, both my sons got chances according to their abilities.” After returning to Kerala, Samson began coaching young footballers. Even on Monday, he was busy at the football ground training children when he heard that his World Cup-winning son was returning home. By then, excitement had already spread through the neighbourhood to catch a glimpse of the star. Yet Sanju himself remained characteristically calm—almost as if he had returned home after winning just another tournament. After arriving, he enjoyed a home-cooked meal prepared by his mother, met relatives briefly, and then left for another engagement. According to his father, this quiet composure is simply part of their family’s nature. “We prefer to stay away from a flashy lifestyle. I am extremely proud that Sanju has been named Player of the Series in the World Cup, but there is no need for excessive celebration. I always knew he had the ability—today the world has seen it,” Samson said. He added that he did not even go to the stadium despite knowing his son would play in the World Cup, watching the final from home instead.

Sanju delivered outstanding performances for India in the semi-final and final after the Eden match. Across five innings in the tournament, he scored 321 runs at an average of 80.25 with a striking strike rate of 199.37. In the process, he surpassed Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs in a single World Cup season and was the only Indian among the eight players featured in the ICC’s list of standout performers in this edition of the tournament.