New Delhi: Indian cricket team star Sanju Samson has ventured into business and has walked in the footsteps of the likes of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli to become the co-owner of a football team. Samson is all set to take up a new role beyond the cricket field as he has become the co-owner of Malappuram FC in the newly-launched Kerala Super League (KSL) football tournament.
Samson, who leads Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has himself been a successful athlete and has achieved a lot at the domestic and international levels. The wicket-keeper batter was part of the Indian squad that defeated South Africa in the final to lift the T20 World Cup 2024 title in the Caribbean earlier this year.
Samson has bought a stake in Malappuram FC, who are competing in the inaugural edition of the Kerala Super League and earned their first-ever win last week after beating Forca Kochi 2-1 in their opening game of the tournament at the JLN Stadium in Kochi.
Malappuram FC are a football club based in Kerala’s Malappuram and will play their home matches at the Malappuram District Complex Stadium during the KSL 2024. The club is co-owned by VA Ajmal Bismi, Dr. Anvar Ameen Chelat, and Baby Neelambra along with Samson. Samson joins the likes of Dhoni and Kohli in an exclusive club of Indian cricketers, who co-own football teams.
Kohli is the co-owner of the Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa while Dhoni co-owns ISL outfit Chennayin FC alongside Vita Dani and Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan. However, unlike FC Goa and Chennayin FC, Malappuram FC will compete in the Kerala Pro League, a private league, which is not part of the official Indian football structure which consists of the top-flight ISL and the I-League.
Sanju Samson called up in Duleep Trophy
Samson, who was initially snubbed from all four squads in the Duleep Trophy, was included in the India D squad for the first round after wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan was ruled out. However, Samson was not given a chance in the playing XI in the Shreyas Iyer-led side’s clash against India C as KS Bharat got the nod over him.
Despite not being in the scheme of things for the Indian team in Test cricket, Samson will look to do well in the opportunities that come his way in the Duleep Trophy to remain in the eyes of the selectors. The swashbuckling batter can break into the Test team in case of injuries with a long season ahead for India.
Indian cricketer Sanju Samson has joined the likes of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli in becoming the co-owner of an Indian football club. Samson, who leads Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, has ventured into the world of business after achieving excellence as an athlete himself. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
