Smash hit from down south: Samson rises with the Royals

Keeping the faith: After a string of high scores in domestic games,Kerala wicketkeeper catches eye with his ability to soak in the pressure

Five years ago Sanju Samson was distraught. Not getting picked for the Delhi under-13 team came as a big setback for the budding cricket with big dreams. Father Samson Viswanath feared that the snub could see his son lose confidence and,maybe,even quit the sport all together. So the constable with the Delhi police put in a request for voluntary retirement and subsequently moved with family to his native land Vizhinjam,26 kilometres from Trivandrum. Delhis cut-throat cricket environment wasnt conducive for the growth for his introvert son.

With a point to prove and not wanting to let down his father,a football striker who represented Delhi in the 1984 Santosh Trophy,Sanju started the second chapter of his cricketing journey by smashing 110 off just 55 balls while representing Trivandrum in an inter-district junior game. In the same year at the 2009 Under-13 tournament organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association,Sanju made over 900 runs that included three centuries and a double century to prove that he wasnt a flash in the pan.

Word soon spread. The talent scouts from Kolkata Knight Riders came looking for the 13-year-old stroke player. At the Kolkata trial,Samson was to impress KKRs then coach John Buchanan,who handed him an academy contract in 2009. But after warming the bench for three season,Sanju became restless.

Having S Sreesanth as a senior in the Kerala side helped Samson,who was to sign for Rajasthan Royals. Rahul Dravid told him not to worry and that he would get to play for the Royals, the senior Samson said recalling the assuring words that put his son at ease.

On Sunday evening,Sanju called his father to inform him that he was picked for the playing XI. It was wonderful to watch him keep wickets,take catches,score runs 23 n.o off 20 balls versus Kings XI Punjab and help the team win the match in his IPL debut. I never had a doubt about his talent. I moved back to my native place so Sanju could get the best-possible environment to succeed, Viswanath said.

Sacrifices galore

Shifting base wasnt the only sacrifice that the family made to ensure that Samson,and his brother Sally,a Kerala under-25 cricketer,purse their dreams. When I used to watch them train in Delhi,I noticed that the other boys had the best of equipment. I took a Rs 1.5 lakh loan because I didnt want them to play with borrowed bats. If one of their bats broke,I would immediately buy a new one and the brand of their choice, Viswanath said of the days in the capital.

It was at the Medical College Grounds in Trivandrum that Biju George,a Sports Authority of India SAI coach,first started working with Samson in 2009. He soon realised that the senior Samsons optimism with regard to Sanju wasnt misplaced.

Story continues below this ad

Sanju trained on an old piece of astro-turf,taken from the SAIs Kengeri centre when the hockey ground was relaid,placed on top of a concrete wicket. Coach George attributes Samsons confidence against pace bowlers to the endless hour of practice on that piece of astro-turf.

Compared to other batsmen Sanju picks the line and length much earlier and hence is in position earlier. He was so talented that the pace bowlers would bowl at him with synthetic cricket balls from 15 yards. First they would bowl from 22 yards,then 18 and then finally 15 and even then he was in position early to play the stroke, George said of his exceptionally talented ward,who has represented his state in all age-group tournaments,including the Under-25,and was also part of Indias Under-19 Asia Cup squad.

The first-class debut came in 2011. And in 13 innings Sanju has made two centuries and a fifty,including a 127 versus Himachal Pradesh in Nadaun last season,a knock that his Kerala coach Sujith Somasundar,the former opener,rates highly. Sanju has not yet been able to play to his potential in first-class cricket but that is because he has to shuffle between playing Under-19 and Under-25 cricket and Ranji Trophy, Somasundar said.

However,the state coach who has a certificate in sports psychology,backs the 18-year-old to play for India. He is mentally strong,he is mature beyond his years,is exceptionally talented and has passion for the game. He can bat,he can keep wickets and is a brilliant fielder and catcher. The IPL is only a stepping stone for Sanju because he has the potential to play for India. I would be surprised if he doesnt go all the way, Somasundar said.