Sanju Samson Age, Religion, Caste, Height, Family, Education, Career, and Jersey Number
Last updated: October 30, 2026
Sanju Samson is an Indian international cricketer known for his elegant batting, aggressive stroke play and wicketkeeping abilities. Born in Kerala, he developed an interest in cricket at an early age and worked his way through domestic cricket before establishing himself in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the national team. His performances for Rajasthan Royals, leadership qualities and contributions to India’s white-ball cricket have made him one of the recognised names in Indian cricket.
Over the years, Samson has experienced both remarkable achievements and challenges in securing a regular place in the Indian playing XI. His journey from a young cricketer in Delhi and Kerala to an international player reflects years of training, family support and perseverance. Here is everything to know about Sanju Samson, including his age, religion, caste, height, family, education, cricket career and jersey number.
Who Is Sanju Samson?
Sanju Samson is an Indian professional cricketer who represents India in international white-ball cricket. His full name is Sanju Viswanath Samson, and he was born on 11 November 1994 in Pulluvila, a coastal village in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. He is a right-handed batter and wicketkeeper who is particularly recognised for his attacking approach and ability to play shots around the ground. Samson began his professional cricket journey with Kerala and made his first-class debut at the age of 17.
His performances in domestic cricket earned him an opportunity in the IPL, where he initially represented Rajasthan Royals. He later became the franchise’s captain and spent several seasons leading its batting lineup. In 2026, he joined Chennai Super Kings. Samson has also represented India at the international level since 2015. His career reached another major milestone during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he played a crucial role in India’s title-winning campaign and received the Player of the Tournament award.
Sanju Samson Biography and Personal Details
| Particulars | Details |
| Full Name | Sanju Viswanath Samson |
| Nickname | Sanju, Chettan |
| Date of Birth | 11 November 1994 |
| Age | 31 years |
| Birthplace | Pulluvila, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Caste | Not officially established in public records |
| Profession | Professional Cricketer |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-spin |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Father | Samson Viswanath |
| Mother | Ligy Viswanath |
| Brother | Saly Samson |
| Wife | Charulatha Remesh |
| School | Rosary Senior Secondary School; St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School |
| College | Mar Ivanios College |
| Education | BA in English Literature |
| India Jersey Number | 9 |
| CSK Jersey Number | 11 |
| Domestic Team | Kerala |
| IPL Team (2026) | Chennai Super Kings |
Sanju Samson Age and Early Life
Sanju Samson was born on 11 November 1994 in Pulluvila, Kerala. As of October 2026, Sanju Samson’s age is 31 years. He spent part of his childhood in Delhi because his father worked with the Delhi Police. His early interest in cricket developed while the family was living in North Delhi. He attended Rosary Senior Secondary School and received cricket training under coach Yashpal at an academy associated with DL DAV Model School in Shalimar Bagh.
Samson initially tried to establish himself in Delhi’s age-group cricket but faced difficulties securing a place in the state’s junior team. His father eventually decided to leave his police job and move the family back to Kerala so that Sanju and his elder brother could continue developing their cricket careers. After returning to Kerala, Samson trained at Masters Cricket Club in Thiruvananthapuram before joining coach Biju George at the Medical College Ground. His performances in junior cricket soon attracted attention.
He represented Kerala at various age-group levels and demonstrated considerable batting potential. During the 2008–09 Vijay Merchant Trophy, he scored a double century against Goa, further strengthening his reputation as a promising young cricketer. His progress through junior cricket eventually opened the door to the Kerala senior team and India’s Under-19 setup.
Sanju Samson Family

Sanju Samson belongs to a close-knit family from Kerala that played an important role in his development as a cricketer. His parents encouraged his sporting ambitions, while his father’s decisions helped him access better cricket training opportunities.
Sanju Samson father: Samson Viswanath
Samson Viswanath is Sanju Samson’s father. He previously worked as a police constable with the Delhi Police and was also a football player who represented Delhi in the Santosh Trophy. His experience in sports helped him understand the importance of discipline and regular training. When Sanju struggled to secure opportunities in Delhi’s junior cricket system, his father decided to take voluntary retirement and relocate the family to Kerala. This decision allowed Samson to continue his cricket training and eventually establish himself in domestic cricket.
Sanju Samson mother: Ligy Viswanath
Ligy Viswanath is Sanju Samson’s mother. She supported his cricketing ambitions throughout his childhood and played an important role in maintaining the family environment that allowed him to concentrate on the sport. She has generally maintained a private life away from the public attention surrounding her son’s cricket career.
Sanju Samson brother: Saly Samson
Saly Samson is Sanju’s elder brother. He has also been associated with cricket and represented Kerala at the junior level. Unlike Sanju, who pursued professional cricket at the highest level, Saly followed a different professional path and has been associated with the Accountant General’s office.
The brothers shared their early cricketing experiences while growing up, particularly during their family’s time in Delhi and subsequent return to Kerala.
Sanju Samson Religion and Cast
Sanju Samson follows Christianity. He was born into a Malayali Christian family in Pulluvila, Kerala, a region with a strong Christian community.
His religious background has occasionally attracted public attention, particularly because his wife, Charulatha Remesh, comes from a Hindu family. However, their different religious backgrounds did not prevent them from building a relationship and getting married.
What Is Sanju Samson’s Caste?
There is no reliably established official public record confirming Sanju Samson’s caste. Some online biographies associate his family with the Latin Catholic community in Kerala, but religious community identification should not automatically be treated as an officially verified caste classification. Therefore, it is more accurate to identify his religious background as Christianity rather than assign him a specific caste without reliable evidence.
Sanju Samson Education
Sanju Samson completed his schooling at two institutions because of his family’s relocation from Delhi to Kerala. He initially attended Rosary Senior Secondary School in Delhi, where he also continued developing his interest in cricket. After moving to Kerala, he studied at St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram.
Following school, Samson attended Mar Ivanios College in Thiruvananthapuram, where he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. His college years were also significant in his personal life, as he met his future wife, Charulatha Remesh, during this period. Although professional cricket became his primary career, Samson completed his higher education alongside his sporting development.
Sanju Samson Cricket Career
Sanju Samson’s cricketing journey includes several important stages, from junior cricket in Kerala to domestic competitions, the IPL, and international cricket.
Early Domestic Cricket Career
Samson began attracting attention through his performances in Kerala’s age-group cricket competitions. His batting ability and wicketkeeping skills helped him progress through the state’s junior teams. He made his first-class debut for Kerala in 2011 against Vidarbha at the age of 17. His performances in subsequent domestic seasons established him as one of the promising young batters in the state. He also represented India at the Under-19 level and was appointed vice-captain of the Indian team for the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. One of his notable domestic achievements came during the 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Samson scored an unbeaten 212 against Goa, becoming one of the few Indian cricketers to record a double century in List A cricket.
IPL Career and Rajasthan Royals
Sanju Samson entered the IPL system in 2012 after being signed by Kolkata Knight Riders, although he did not play a match that season. His breakthrough came in 2013 when Rajasthan Royals signed him. He scored 206 runs during his debut IPL season and received the Emerging Player of the Year award.
His performances attracted attention for his timing, stroke selection and ability to score quickly against experienced bowlers. Samson subsequently played for Delhi Daredevils between 2016 and 2017 before returning to Rajasthan Royals in 2018. In 2021, Rajasthan Royals appointed him as their captain. Under his leadership, the franchise reached the IPL final in 2022, finishing as runners-up.
Some of his notable IPL seasons include:
- 2021: Scored 484 runs and established himself as Rajasthan Royals’ leading batting figure.
- 2022: Scored 458 runs as Rajasthan Royals reached the IPL final.
- 2023: Finished the season with 362 runs.
- 2024: Scored 531 runs, recording one of his most productive IPL seasons.
Samson remained closely associated with Rajasthan Royals for several seasons before moving to Chennai Super Kings in 2026.
International Cricket Career
Sanju Samson made his T20 International debut for India on 19 July 2015 against Zimbabwe in Harare. However, competition for wicketkeeper-batter positions meant that he did not immediately become a regular member of the national playing XI. His ODI debut came later, on 23 July 2021, against Sri Lanka. One of his most memorable international performances came in December 2023, when he scored his maiden ODI century against South Africa. He made 108 runs in the third ODI, helping India secure a series victory. Samson subsequently delivered several important performances in T20 International cricket. He became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a T20I century and continued to strengthen his position in India’s white-ball setup.
His international career has been characterised by aggressive batting, occasional periods outside the playing XI and important contributions when given opportunities.
2026 T20 World Cup Achievement
The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup became a defining chapter in Sanju Samson’s international career. Although he did not begin the tournament as a regular member of India’s playing XI, he made a significant impact after receiving opportunities.
His unbeaten 97 against the West Indies helped India progress in the competition. He followed it with important performances in the knockout stages, including 89 runs in the final against New Zealand. Samson finished the tournament with 321 runs in five innings and received the Player of the Tournament award. His performances played an important role in India’s successful campaign and marked one of the biggest achievements of his international career.
Sanju Samson Height and Physical Appearance
Sanju Samson is approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall. His athletic build and agility are useful for his dual responsibilities as a batter and wicketkeeper.
His physical profile includes:
| Physical Attribute | Details |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Batting Hand | Right-handed |
| Playing Role | Wicketkeeper-batter |
Samson is particularly recognised for his balanced batting stance, quick footwork and ability to generate power without compromising his shot timing.
Sanju Samson Jersey Number
Sanju Samson wears jersey number 9 while representing the Indian national cricket team. The number has become closely associated with his international appearances. His IPL jersey number has varied depending on the franchise he represents. During his time with Rajasthan Royals, he wore number 11. He also wears number 11 for Chennai Super Kings in the 2026 season.
Therefore, his current jersey numbers are:
- India: 9
- Chennai Super Kings: 11
Sanju Samson Wife and Personal Life
Sanju Samson is married to Charulatha Remesh. The couple met while studying at Mar Ivanios College in Thiruvananthapuram and developed a relationship during their college years. Their relationship began through social media, after Samson sent Charulatha a friend request on Facebook. They eventually became close and maintained their relationship for several years.
On 22 December 2018, Sanju Samson and Charulatha got married in an intimate ceremony in Kerala. Their marriage attracted attention because they come from different religious backgrounds. Despite his popularity as an international cricketer, Samson generally maintains a private personal life. He rarely discusses his family in detail and prefers to keep most of his attention on cricket.
Conclusion
Sanju Samson’s journey from a young cricket enthusiast in Kerala to an international cricketer is a story of persistence, family support and professional development. His father’s decision to relocate the family, his progress through domestic cricket and his breakthrough with Rajasthan Royals all played important roles in shaping his career.
Despite facing challenges in securing consistent opportunities at the international level, Samson continued working towards establishing himself in India’s white-ball team. His performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup, particularly his 321-run tournament, marked a major achievement in his career. As he continues his journey with Chennai Super Kings and the Indian team, Samson remains an important figure in Indian cricket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sanju Samson was born on 11 November 1994. He is 31 years old as of October 2026.
Sanju Samson follows Christianity and belongs to a Malayali Christian family from Kerala.
His caste has not been reliably established in official public records. Some sources describe his family as Latin Catholic, but this should not be presented as a confirmed caste classification.
Sanju Samson is approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall.
His father is Samson Viswanath, his mother is Ligy Viswanath and his elder brother is Saly Samson. He is married to Charulatha Remesh.
He completed his schooling at Rosary Senior Secondary School in Delhi and St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram. He pursued a BA in English Literature from Mar Ivanios College.
Sanju Samson wears jersey number 9 for India and number 11 for Chennai Super Kings in the 2026 IPL season.
Sanju Samson plays for Chennai Super Kings in the 2026 IPL season. He previously spent several seasons with Rajasthan Royals and captained the franchise.
Sanju Samson’s wife is Charulatha Remesh. They met during their college years and married on 22 December 2018.
He is known for his aggressive batting, wicketkeeping skills, IPL performances and contributions to India’s white-ball cricket. He was also named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.


