Samson's elevation in U-19 team brings joy to family

Eighteen-year-old Sanju Samson's selection as the vice-captain of the India Under-19 cricket team to tour Australia has been greeted with a lot of happiness at his home here.

The tri-nation tournament begins in Australia June 30. New Zealand and Australia are the other teams participating.

Samson was in the news for his brilliant performance for Rajasthan Royals in the recently concluded sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and bagged the best young cricketer award.

In 10 innings, Samson scored 206 runs with 63 not out being his highest score and finished with a strike rate of 130.20 at an average of 25.75.

"Yes, we all are happy. He is now in Bangalore and we all wish he performs well and this new role is an added responsibility," said his father Viswanath Samson, a former Delhi Police constable who quit his job to mould the future of his two cricketer sons.

The Samsons hail from a coastal hamlet near the beach here and through his performance at the IPL, he became an instant hero and his cut-outs continue to be seen at various places in the village.

Vishwanath's elder son, Saly Samson, is in his second year of college and plays for the state Under-25 cricket team.