Sanju Samson is one of the few Indian batters to build a major reputation primarily through franchise cricket before becoming a regular in the national side. A right-handed wicketkeeper-batter, he has played for India in ODIs and T20Is since 2015 and 2021, and he is best known for his years with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This article sets out his career figures in each format, his IPL and domestic record, and the milestones that define his career.
Sanju Samson Profile Details
Samson was born on 11 November 1994 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He bats right-handed and keeps wicket, and he is listed as a batter who can also bowl right-arm off-break, though he has bowled very little.
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Sanju Viswanath Samson |
| Date of birth | 11 November 1994 |
| Birthplace | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Bowling style | Right-arm off-break |
| Playing role | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| T20I debut | 19 July 2015, vs Zimbabwe |
| ODI debut | 23 July 2021, vs Sri Lanka, R. Premadasa Stadium |
| Test debut | Not applicable (no Test appearances) |
| IPL debut | 2013 |
| IPL teams | Delhi Daredevils (2016 to 2017), Rajasthan Royals (2018 to 2025), Chennai Super Kings (2026) |
| Domestic team | Kerala |
| Captaincy | Captained Rajasthan Royals in the IPL from 2021 |
Samson’s IPL journey has taken him to several franchises, and he remains one of the most experienced wicketkeeper-batters in the league. His early years with Rajasthan Royals gave him the platform to become an Indian white-ball regular.
Sanju Samson Career Stats Overview
The table below summarises Samson’s batting across the formats and competitions in which he has played. Figures reflect the latest verified records.
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s |
| ODIs | 16 | 14 | 5 | 510 | 108 | 56.66 | 99.60 | 1 | 3 |
| T20Is | 66 | 58 | 5 | 1,432 | 111 | 27.02 | 155.99 | 3 | 6 |
| IPL | 191 | 186 | Not verified | 5,181 | 119 | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| T20 (all, including IPL) | 282 | 273 | 35 | 7,478 | 119 | 31.42 | 136.96 | 5 | 49 |
| First-class | 66 | 108 | 9 | 3,888 | 211 | 39.27 | 60.20 | 11 | 17 |
| List A | 114 | 107 | 11 | 3,089 | 212 | 32.18 | 89.23 | 3 | 16 |
Samson’s international output is smaller than his franchise output, but his T20I strike rate of 155.99 is among the highest of any Indian batter with a comparable number of innings. His T20 record across all competitions is the largest of his career, and it reflects his long involvement in franchise cricket.
Sanju Samson ODI Stats
Samson made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in July 2021. He had to wait a while for his next ODI, which came in a series in the West Indies, where he scored 54 in the second match.
Across 16 ODIs, he has scored 510 runs in 14 innings, with five not outs. His average is 56.66, and his strike rate is 99.60. His highest score is 108, and he has one century and three fifties. He has also hit 34 fours and 22 sixes.
| ODI Statistic | Figure |
| Matches / Innings | 16 / 14 |
| Not outs | 5 |
| Runs | 510 |
| Highest score | 108 |
| Batting average | 56.66 |
| Strike rate | 99.60 |
| Centuries / Fifties | 1 / 3 |
| Fours / Sixes | 34 / 22 |
His maiden ODI century came in the third ODI of the three-match series against South Africa on 21 December 2023. That century came in his last ODI appearance to date, which makes the innings the most recent landmark in his 50-over career.
Sanju Samson T20I Stats
Samson made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe on 19 July 2015. Over the following years, he became one of India’s regular T20I options, and he has scored three centuries in the format. His highest T20I score is 111.
Across 66 T20Is, he has scored 1,432 runs in 58 innings, with five not outs. His average is 27.02, and his strike rate is 155.99. He has three centuries and six fifties, with 119 fours and 86 sixes.
| T20I Statistic | Figure |
| Matches / Innings | 66 / 58 |
| Not outs | 5 |
| Runs | 1,432 |
| Highest score | 111 |
| Batting average | 27.02 |
| Strike rate | 155.99 |
| Centuries / Fifties | 3 / 6 |
| Fours / Sixes | 119 / 86 |
His T20I strike rate is the most striking feature of his international record. It shows a batter who accelerates quickly, even though his average has been affected by a number of low scores in recent series.
In September 2026, during India’s T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi, Samson completed 2,000 international runs. He scored 57 off 22 balls in that match, which marked a return to form after a lean period.
Sanju Samson Test Stats
Samson has not appeared in Test cricket. His career has focused on limited-overs formats for India, along with franchise cricket and domestic first-class and List A matches for Kerala.
Sanju Samson IPL Stats 2026
Samson has played 191 IPL matches, scoring 5,181 runs in 186 innings. His highest IPL score is 119. His IPL record includes the Rajasthan Royals years, during which he was one of the franchise’s most important batters and led the side as captain from 2021.
Before joining Rajasthan Royals in 2018, he played for Delhi Daredevils in 2016 and 2017. He was traded to Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 2026 IPL season, and his figures for that season are included in the career totals above.
Samson’s IPL strengths are consistency and power in the middle order. He has been trusted to bat at different positions, and he has been effective both as an opener and at number three.
IPL Team Details
Samson’s franchise history covers three IPL sides. He spent his early IPL years with Delhi Daredevils, then moved to Rajasthan Royals, where he became the franchise’s leading figure in the batting order. He was named Rajasthan Royals captain for the 2021 season, a role that marked his step into senior leadership. Since 2026, he has played for Chennai Super Kings.
Sanju Samson Stats Century
Samson’s century record covers two formats. Scores and venue details for each century are not included here, to avoid presenting unverified details.
| Format | Centuries |
| ODIs | 1 |
| T20Is | 3 |
| First-class | 11 |
| List A | 3 |
His ODI century, his highest score in the format at 108, came in December 2023 against South Africa. His three T20I centuries make him one of the more prolific Indian centurions in the shortest format, and his highest T20I score of 111 is among the highest individual scores in his international career.
Sanju Samson First-Class and List A Stats
Samson’s domestic first-class record covers 66 matches and 108 innings for Kerala. He has scored 3,888 runs at an average of 39.27, with a strike rate of 60.20. His highest first-class score is 211, and he has 11 hundreds and 17 fifties. He has also hit 448 fours and 93 sixes.
His List A record covers 114 matches and 107 innings. He has scored 3,089 runs at an average of 32.18 and a strike rate of 89.23, with a highest score of 212. He has three hundreds and 16 fifties.
These domestic figures are kept separate from his international and IPL totals.
Sanju Samson Complete Batting Statistics
The table below presents Samson’s batting by format and competition. Where a figure has not been confirmed in the latest records, the cell is left blank rather than estimated.
| Competition | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s |
| ODIs | 16 | 14 | 5 | 510 | 108 | 56.66 | 99.60 | 1 | 3 |
| T20Is | 66 | 58 | 5 | 1,432 | 111 | 27.02 | 155.99 | 3 | 6 |
| IPL | 191 | 186 | 5,181 | 119 | |||||
| First-class | 66 | 108 | 9 | 3,888 | 211 | 39.27 | 60.20 | 11 | 17 |
| List A | 114 | 107 | 11 | 3,089 | 212 | 32.18 | 89.23 | 3 | 16 |
Samson’s batting profile is strongest in the shorter formats, where his strike rate is high. His ODI average of 56.66 stands out against his T20I average of 27.02, which reflects the difference between his limited-overs roles.
Sanju Samson Career Records and Achievements
Samson’s career includes several clear milestones.
He made his T20I debut in July 2015 against Zimbabwe, and his ODI debut followed in July 2021 against Sri Lanka. He captained Rajasthan Royals from 2021, and he scored 2,000 international runs in September 2026, during the T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi.
His maiden ODI century came in December 2023 against South Africa, and he later reached three T20I centuries. His first-class career includes 11 hundreds, and his highest first-class score of 211 is one of the defining innings of his domestic career.
Sanju Samson Performance Analysis
Samson’s figures show a batter whose strengths are clearest in limited-overs cricket. His T20I strike rate of 155.99 and his ODI average of 56.66 are both strong, but his T20I average of 27.02 shows that his scoring has often been uneven. His IPL record of 5,181 runs across 191 matches shows the consistency that has made him a regular at the franchise level.
First-class average of 39.27 and his List A average of 32.18 suggest that his domestic record is solid rather than exceptional. His strength is his ability to change the tempo of an innings, especially in T20 cricket, where his strike rate has been consistently high.
Overall, Samson’s career reflects a batter who has made the most of his opportunities in short formats, and who continues to add to his international record. You can also check Sanju Samson Net Worth 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
He has scored 510 runs in 16 ODIs, with an average of 56.66 and one century.
His T20I strike rate is 155.99, based on 1,432 runs in 66 matches.
He has three T20I centuries, along with six fifties and a highest score of 111.
He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in July 2021.
He has scored 5,181 runs in 191 IPL matches, with a highest score of 119.
No. He has not appeared in Test cricket and has focused on ODIs and T20Is.
He captained Rajasthan Royals from the 2021 season.
He completed 2,000 international runs in September 2026, during the T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi.
