The rise and rise of Kerala's Sanju Samson

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http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-rise-and-rise-of-keralas-sanju-samson/1200447/0 As Sanju Samson got on the line to call his father Samson Viswanath from Guwahati, where Kerala were playing Assam in a Group C Ranji Trophy match last month, the 19-year-old knew that breaking the news of his maiden double hundred would be followed by a difficult question. 'Why didn't you carry on and score a triple hundred?' Samson had batted for 477 minutes to ensure Kerala went past Assam's 323 and gained the first innings lead. He made 211 out of Kerala's 362. Reduced to 96 for 2 and then to 110 for 3 at Barsapara, the visitors were in a spot before Samson's double century bailed them out. The next highest score was 46, by opener Nikhilesh Surendran. Father Samson, a police constable who took voluntary retirement from his posting in Delhi to help his son pursue cricket, wanted to know the mode of dismissal and what stopped him from scoring a triple century. Quite like a professional coach with a keen eye on his ward. "He was very happy but he always wants more from me. When I tell him I've got a hundred, he wants to know why I didn't make it into a double. So that keeps me going," Samson, who has scored 420 runs in five innings at an average of 140 in this Ranji Trophy season, said. Exceptional run Following the game against Assam, Samson scored 115 and 51 not out against Andhra, and 41 and one not out against Tripura. After scoring 60 in the final of the Champions League while playing for Rajasthan Royals versus Mumbai Indians — one of his T20 knocks that has earned praise for his composure and shot-selection — Samson has also shown the promise to score big runs in the longer form of the game. Kerala coach Sujith Somasunder, a former India opener, a certified behaviour-skills trainer and a qualified mental toughness coach, gives Samson a little more credit than his father. “It (the double hundred) is one of the best knocks I have seen in first-class cricket. Coming from a person so young, he took the team to safety by himself. He delayed playing some of the shots that involved higher elements of risks," Somasunder said. Samson had cut out risks, including coming down the pitch to the spinners. "He stepped out and hit a couple of sixes after we took the lead. He could have done that earlier but he held back. When you delay your gratification, that is the sign of maturity," Somasunder said. Samson's double hundred, Somasunder believes, only proves that the side is learning what it takes to make centuries and huge totals in four-day games. "The number of high scores have increased in this dressing room. When one person does so, it opens the door for others. It is something others would like to emulate," the coach added. Samson believes that his experience in T20 and in List A matches has helped him realise how to go about his innings in the longer versions of the game. "The difference is that in four-day games last year, I would just go and express myself. But I have learnt to play according to what the team needs and what situation I am in. We were chasing 325 (against Assam) and I was playing on 180 when he we crossed their first innings score. I was at the crease to help my team make three points," Samson said The 19-year-old, in consultation with the coach, is also trying to effect a change in the Kerala dressing room by encouraging every member of the squad to voice their opinions, something he learnt under Rahul Dravid at the Rajasthan Royals. "I was lucky enough to play under Rahul sir where every player was asked to speak at team meetings. I remember that after the Champions League final only Rahul sir and coach Paddy Upton spoke but I felt I must speak. I thanked everyone for taking me in the team and putting faith in me. In the Kerala team, everyone is now expressing themselves and we can see it in the performance," Samson said.

[express bowling]

All the Best.

[fineleg]

Good, but needs to show consistency in domestics and when selected in A tours

[cowboysfan]

i really hope we can have a proper test wk batsmen,he needs to be groomed for test cricket.

[Zanjeer]

i really hope we can have a proper test wk batsmen' date='he needs to be groomed for test cricket.[/quote'] He's not a wicket keeper. He's like Robin uthapa who does keeping occasionally.

[Ghost Buster]

He's not a wicket keeper. He's like Robin uthapa who does keeping occasionally.

Thats why i think it will be pretty difficult for him to get into test team. There are not much vacancies for now and there is severe competition. Shld look to play has a WK batsman.

[SLICKR392]

Has been scoring consistently with some big handy scores. Did well in Autralia and SL. Few more A tours before he is taken into consideration.

[Cricketics]

I don't want to take credit away from this dude for what he has done so far, but I really think that stint with Rahul Dravid really helped him grow. He was handled well in IPL by Rahul Dravid.

[don_corleone840]

Even Jadeja can score 3 triple centuries in ranji. India's next star is Unmukt Chand

[G_B_]

^ more than him its baba of TN i am interested in....

[G_B_]

On samson, I have not seen much of him but as a keeper he is not good enough at the moment. At RR somebody like Yagnik was miles ahead of him as a keeper. He is still 19 and if i was him i would start concentrating on my keeping. India will always have good calibre batsman. As thing stand Dhoni will be around for another 4-5 year min. So he has time

[Cricketics]

As thing stand Dhoni will be around for another 4-5 year min. So he has time

I don't think so. The kind of person Dhoni is, I mean he has enough money, and I believe he might call it a day from either format or may be both after 2015 world cup. I have seen his interviews where he has mentioned he just play for the love of game and that he has enough money to live all his life. He seems to be pretty cool about it and not too emotional and I am sure he will give us a surprise retiement. Also we tour all the away countries - South Africa, NZ, ENGLAND, Aus right before world cup, so he will probably be touring one last time there and migh call it a day after lifting the cup in Melbourne.

[G_B_]

hmm in which case who steps into the breach? Saha? Kartick?

[GoldenSun]

A bit off topic here, but I for one am fascinated for the next 12 months. If you ask me, getting to play in seaming(Eng, NZ), and bouncy(Aus, SA)are a great preparatiion itself for the 2015 World Cup. Plus isn't there also a CB series prior to the tournament? Our guys will have all the experience in the world going into the WC and what type of pitches to expect.

[Cricketics]

hmm in which case who steps into the breach? Saha? Kartick?

That's long way to go. We might have more people who gain popularity from BCCI's tournament of selection criteria which is IPL. There will be two more IPL's before post 2015world cup Indian ERA begins and thats where future prospects wicket keepers will be picked. I don't see many being selected based on their Ranji performance, since there is lot common among the keepers there..

[Cricketics]

A bit off topic here' date=' but I for one am fascinated for the next 12 months. If you ask me, getting to play in seaming(Eng, NZ), and bouncy(Aus, SA)are a great preparatiion itself for the 2015 World Cup. Plus isn't there also a CB series prior to the tournament? Our guys will have all the experience in the world going into the WC and what type of pitches to expect.[/quote'] It is the most exciting time if you are Indian fan. We are playing pretty much everything away. We hardly play at home till world cup. Probably just one series which is also not sure against who and how many games. Yes there is supposedly a tri series with England as third team right before world cup.

[GoldenSun]

It is the most exciting time if you are Indian fan. We are playing pretty much everything away. We hardly play at home till world cup. Probably just one series which is also not sure against who and how many games. Yes there is supposedly a tri series with England as third team right before world cup.

Ive been waiting for this World Tour since last year :). I don't care about 0-8 from the past. I'm still expecting India to do well. I'll catch some of the matches in Australia

[Soorma_Bhopali]

He should be groomed as Dhoni's successor in all formats as he has age on his side . He should be exposed to A tours , emerging tournaments , 2-3 years of first class /IPL and probably as the second w/k after saha in tours /matches where Dhoni is rested like Zimbabwe/Bangladesh .

[msb1991]

Even Jadeja can score 3 triple centuries in ranji. India's next star is Unmukt Chand

Out of interest, how do you judge ability if not by weight of runs. It is not a perfect method but what is yours?

[G_B_]

^ pepsi adverts?