Sanju Samson, the captain of Kerala’s cricket team, exhibited a heartwarming gesture towards fans during the Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh at the Sanatana Dharma College Ground in Alappuzha. Engaging with supporters in his hometown, Samson signed autographs and posed for pictures, showcasing appreciation for the love he receives.
A viral video captured Samson guiding veteran spinner Kuldeep Yadav to the boundary side, emphasizing camaraderie between players from opposing teams in domestic competitions.
.@IamSanjuSamson & @imkuldeep18 with fans 🇮🇳💙 pic.twitter.com/Z2wJtAhUEA
— Sanju Samson Fans Page (@SanjuSamsonFP) January 8, 2024
In the match, Uttar Pradesh set the tone by scoring 302 in their first innings, while Kerala managed 243 in their second innings, lasting 74 overs. Uttar Pradesh declared their third innings at 323 runs, with Aryan Juyal and Priyam Garg contributing centuries. The game concluded with Kerala at 72 for two in pursuit of the 383-run target.
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Uttar Pradesh secured three points with the first-innings lead, while Kerala earned one point. Samson, batting at number 7, scored 35 (46) in Kerala’s first innings before being dismissed by Yash Dayal. Kuldeep played a pivotal role, claiming four wickets across two innings.
Despite being consistently overlooked for India’s white-ball squads, Sanju Samson earned a spot in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. He, along with Jitesh Sharma, was chosen as a wicketkeeper over Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul. Samson’s inclusion followed his match-winning century in the third ODI against South Africa at Boland Park in December. His outstanding knock of 108 off 114 deliveries contributed to India’s convincing 78-run victory, securing a 2-1 series win.
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Team India squad for Afghanistan series: Rohit Sharma (C), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, W Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
