Sanju Samson's Father Accuses Dhoni, Kohli, Sharma, And Dravid Of Hindering Son's Cricket Career

Sanju Samson, a notable Indian cricketer, has recently experienced a career revival. This resurgence is largely attributed to the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. Their support has been instrumental in his improved performance in T20 Internationals.

However, Sanju's father, Samson Vishwanath, has voiced significant frustration regarding his son's career path. In an interview with a Malayalam news outlet, he accused prominent figures in Indian cricket of impeding Sanju's progress.

Vishwanath specifically named MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and former coach Rahul Dravid as those responsible for hindering Sanju's career. He stated, "There are 3-4 people who wasted 10 years of my son's vital career...captains like Dhoni ji, Virat [Kohli] ji, Rohit [Sharma] ji, and coach [Rahul] Dravid ji."

He further expressed that these individuals had negatively impacted Sanju's life. Despite this adversity, Vishwanath noted that his son emerged stronger from these challenges. He also criticized former selector Kris Srikkanth for belittling Sanju's century against Bangladesh.

Srikkanth reportedly questioned the quality of the opposition during Sanju's century. In response, Vishwanath remarked on Srikkanth's reputation as a player but emphasized the importance of respecting achievements like centuries. He compared Sanju's classical playing style to legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

Despite these grievances, Vishwanath expressed gratitude towards Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav for their role in revitalizing Sanju's career. "I am very happy, and I want to thank Gautam Gambhir bhai and Suryakumar bhai," he said.

Impact on Career Trajectory

Vishwanath acknowledged that without their intervention at this crucial time, Sanju might have been dropped from the team again. Gambhir's decision to allow Sanju to open in T20Is has been pivotal. This move enabled him to become the first Indian to score consecutive T20I centuries.

This renewed focus on Sanju comes as India gears up for the T20 World Cup in 2026. His father remains optimistic that these recent performances will secure him a stable position in the national team.