Shashi Tharoor Shares Pride Over Birthday Call From Sanju Samson
Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor expressed deep admiration for Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson after receiving a birthday phone call from the cricketer. Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram, took to X on Tuesday to share the interaction, praising Samson’s international form and wishing him success in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).
“Delighted to receive a birthday call last evening from Thiruvananthapuram’s and India’s WorldCup hero Sanju Samson,” Tharoor posted. “Expressed my happiness at his superlative achievements and wished him all the best in the IPL. Feeling so proud of him that words truly cannot suffice.”
Correcting the Record: Samson’s Actual T20 Milestones
Recent viral claims incorrectly credited Samson with scoring 321 runs and breaking Virat Kohli’s 2014 T20 World Cup record of 319 runs. Official International Cricket Council (ICC) records confirm this data is factually inaccurate. Samson was a member of India’s 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup championship squad, though Rishabh Pant served as the primary wicketkeeper throughout the tournament in the United States and West Indies.
Samson’s “superlative achievements” referenced by Tharoor actually highlight his record-breaking bilateral series performances in late 2024. The Kerala native made history by becoming the first Indian batter to score consecutive centuries in T20 Internationals, solidifying his position as a top-order force.
Sanju Samson’s Recent T20I Centuries (2024)
| Opponent | Score | Balls Faced | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 111 | 47 | Hyderabad | October 2024 |
| South Africa | 107 | 50 | Durban | November 2024 |
| South Africa | 109* | 56 | Johannesburg | November 2024 |
Preparations for the Upcoming IPL Season
With the new IPL season approaching, Samson is preparing to lead the Rajasthan Royals. Retained by the franchise as their primary leader, he enters the tournament as one of the most in-form domestic players in the format.
- Franchise Leadership: Captain of the Rajasthan Royals since the 2021 season.
- Career Runs: Holds the record as the highest run-scorer in the franchise’s history.
- International Status: A key white-ball asset for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Fans and analysts tracking official player statistics through ESPNcricinfo will see Samson attempting to guide Rajasthan to their first IPL title since the inaugural 2008 season.