“‘Uncle’ Shashi Tharoor recalls meeting 14-year-old Sanju Samson, backs him to follow MS Dhoni path”

Shashi Tharoor recalled a memorable moment from Sanju Samson’s early days, revealing that he had predicted at just 14 years of age that the youngster would become the next MS Dhoni.

However, Tharoor added that India head coach Gautam Gambhir later corrected him, saying Samson did not need to follow anyone’s path and would instead carve his own identity — a prophecy that now seems fulfilled.

Samson scripted a stunning turnaround during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, stepping into the playing XI during the knockout stages and delivering three consecutive fifties. The wicketkeeper-batter finished with 321 runs in five matches and was named Player of the Tournament, playing a key role in India’s title triumph.

Speaking about Samson’s journey, Tharoor said he has always felt like an “uncle” figure to him. He praised the batter’s composure and transformation on the biggest stage. “I met him when he was 14 and told him he would be the next MS Dhoni. Later, Gautam Gambhir told me he would be the one and only Sanju Samson — and that’s exactly how it has turned out,” Tharoor said.

Impressed by Samson’s calmness and elegance at the crease, Tharoor also backed his return to India’s ODI setup, pointing out that the Kerala batter was dropped despite scoring a century in his last ODI appearance.

Samson-Dhoni link-up at CSK

In an exciting development ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026, Samson has joined the Chennai Super Kings training camp, where he will share the dressing room with Dhoni for the first time. The wicketkeeper arrived at the camp on March 19 and was seen in a light-hearted interaction with the legendary former India captain, sparking excitement among fans.

Ahead of the season, Samson described the opportunity to work closely with Dhoni as special, calling him a long-time positive influence on his career.