Sanju Samson, India's wicketkeeper-batsman, has revealed that attending Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) selection trials at just 14 years of age — in front of former India captain Sourav Ganguly and head coach John Buchanan — felt 'unbelievably surreal.' The cricketer made the disclosure in an episode of JioStar's chat show 'Superstars', offering a rare glimpse into the formative years that shaped one of Indian cricket's most watchable stroke-players.

The KKR Trials That Changed Everything

'After I went on to perform well for Kerala in the Under-13 tournament, Biju sir took me all the way to the Kolkata Knight Riders selection trials when I was just 14 years old. That felt unbelievably surreal for a 14-year-old. Sourav Ganguly sir was the captain of KKR at the time, and John Buchanan was the head coach,' Samson recalled.

The trials proved successful. Samson was selected for the KKR 'B' team and even travelled to Sri Lanka for matches — an extraordinary opportunity for a teenager still finding his footing in competitive cricket. He attributed the entire breakthrough to his childhood coach, Biju George, currently the head of talent scouting at KKR. 'The credit for shaping the early stages of my career will always, unconditionally, go to him,' Samson said.

How Biju George Entered the Picture

The connection with George was forged through relentless networking by Samson's father, Viswanathan, while the family was still based in Delhi. Viswanathan made 'endless phone calls' to contacts in Kerala to map out the state's cricket infrastructure before the family relocated to Thiruvananthapuram.

A close family friend named Ali bhai strongly recommended George as the best coach in Kerala. On the very first day, George conducted a brief trial — just 10 balls each for Samson and his brother. 'Within just 10 minutes of watching us bat, Biju sir made up his mind,' Samson said. George immediately sent Samson's brother to play for the Wayanad district team, while Samson himself was asked to wait for his upcoming Under-13 matches.

School Struggles After the Move to Thiruvananthapuram

The family's transition from Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram was far from smooth. Arriving mid-term, the Samsons were turned away by school after school. Relief finally came through a family connection at St. Joseph's school in Trivandrum, where a friend of Samson's father held a senior position. 'He simply said, "No problem, get uniforms for the kids the next day and send them straight to school." That's how it all began in Trivandrum,' Samson recounted.

Parental Sacrifice as the Driving Force

Samson was candid about the quiet pressure that parental sacrifice placed on him from an early age. 'When you see your father shift his entire world for you, and your mother sacrifice her sleep every day, you realise you can't take a single day off,' he said. Even modest dismissals — getting out for 30 or 40 — weighed heavily on him because of the stakes his family had placed on his success.

'While my friends played for fun, I walked onto the field with one goal — to make my parents proud and make their sacrifices count. That is what kept me focused at such a young age,' he added. Samson, who represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026, has been out of India's playing eleven since the Manchester T20I against England, following two low scores in Ireland. The personal reflections come at a moment when he will be looking to reclaim his place in the national side.