The Delhi & District Cricket Association, which has a long history of “crushing dreams” of deserving players, came dangerously close to doing so before Sanju Samson’s father, a former Delhi Police officer, chose to relocate to his native Kerala. The rest is history, as they say.
Samson was the biggest hero of the Indian T20 team’s victory in the T20 World Cup earlier this year and his exceptional talent with the white ball runs earned him a spot on the team.
Samson did, however, describe how the heartbreak in Delhi turned into a pivotal moment for him and his family. “Back in school, I used to see friends wear the DDCA jacket and talk about playing for the state cricket team of Delhi. That motivated me,” PTI quoted Samson telling ‘JioStar’.
“I wanted to represent Delhi too. I went for trials, attended state camps, and scored runs. Two or three times I made it to the camp but never got a breakthrough into the state team. The competition was tough.”
However, his father, Viswanath, made a split-second decision that proved life-changing for the Samson family.
“Then one day, the team list was announced after my trials had ended. My name was not there. We returned home in silence. As soon as we reached home, my father told my mother, ‘We will have to move to Kerala. We are shifting’,” he recalled.
“My mother said, ‘The kids are only in 6th standard. Let them complete 10th.’ My father said, ‘No, we have to go now. Pack your things. I am booking tickets in three days.’ He took that decision instantly.”
“I remember, we all boarded the train. Then we reached Kerala and I started playing for Kerala. That is how my cricket journey for the Kerala State Team began,” said the man, who made his Ranji Trophy debut weeks before his 17th birthday.
