Sanju Samson and his unmatched popularity in Kerala
Xtra Time Web Desk: Is there a popular Indian cricketer than what Sanju Samson is in Kerala? One must visit Thiruvananthapuram to gauze Samson’s popularity. You ask anyone about Sanju Samson’s popularity in Kerala, no one comes even closer. The Rajasthan Royals skipper was unlucky to miss out being a part of the 15-member Indian squad for ICC Cricket World Cup.
On Tuesday, there were as many Sanju Samson fans as there were for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni outside the Greenfield stadium to watch the second warm up game between India and Netherlands. The local fans are upset not to see their favourite cricketer in the World Cup squad.
A recent viral picture from Team India's net session showcased the players' dedication during their training sessions. In the background of this photograph, the prominent presence of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson caught the attention of fans and followers. Samson shared this snapshot on his Instagram account, captioning it with the phrase "With Team India @ God's own country!!" This term, "God's own country," is often used to affectionately refer to the Indian state of Kerala, known for its natural beauty.
In addition to the image, Samson added an extra layer of sentiment by including background music in the form of the song "Kerala Manniayi," featuring superstar DQ Salmaan.
While Samson enjoys a reputation as one of the premier wicketkeeper-batters in the country at the moment, his journey with the Indian national team has had its ups and downs. Despite consistent performances in domestic and IPL cricket, he was notably left out of India's squads for both the Asian Games and the 2023 World Cup.
Sanju’s childhood coach Biju George feels he should take a leap out of Amol Majumdar, who was unfortunate to always find himself overshadowed by the presence of Sachin Tendulkar. For Sanju too, when it mattered, he failed to grab the opportunities. Supporters of Samson will argue he did not get a longer rope like KL Rahul or Suryakumar Yadav.
With the T20 World Cup scheduled for next year, Sanju should set his goal for cementing his place in the Indian side for the mega event. He will again have a stiff competition from his contemporaries but can he deliver is the million dollar question.
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