“The Kerala Story”: Mollywood Roars For Sanju Samson After Historic T20 World Cup Knock
Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97 against West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026 drew praise from Mohanlal, Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan and more as India stormed into the semi-finals.
Following a spectacular, match-winning performance against the West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026, India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is receiving a massive outpouring of love with the loudest cheers coming from the Malayalam film industry. Sanju Samson played a career-defining knock, remaining unbeaten at 97 off just 50 balls in Kolkata. His masterclass anchored India to a five-wicket victory in the virtual quarter-final, smoothly sailing the Men in Blue into the tournament's semi-finals.
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Speaking to Star Sports after Sunday’s thrilling victory, Sanju Samson revealed the intense mental preparation behind his flawless innings.
“Shot selection was something I kept working on. I did not want to change too much because I knew I had performed with the same setup, so I kept believing in myself, switched off my phone, switched off social media and listened to my own self," he shared.
The Kerala native's “never-give-up” attitude and phenomenal success made everyone proud including the South Indian entertainment industry, prompting a flood of celebratory messages across social media.
Mohanlal shared a poignant image of the cricketer looking up to the skies post-victory, writing: “Exhilarating to watch @IamSanjuSamson in such sublime form! A truly masterful innings that speaks volumes of his character and talent. Hearty congratulations to the entire Indian team for storming into the #T20WorldCup2026 Semi-Finals. Keep the flag flying high.”
Exhilarating to watch @IamSanjuSamson in such sublime form! A truly masterful innings that speaks volumes of his character and talent. Hearty congratulations to the entire Indian team for storming into the #T20WorldCup2026 Semi-Finals. Keep the flag flying high! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/jLMYCQSOWc
— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) March 1, 2026
Mammootty echoed the sentiment of absolute awe: “What a knock, @IamSanjuSamson. Pure class. Pure dominance. A fearless statement on the biggest stage. Congratulations to the Indian cricket team for marching into the #T20WorldCup2026 Semi Final.”
What a knock, @IamSanjuSamson
— Mammootty (@mammukka) March 1, 2026
Pure class. Pure dominance. A fearless statement on the biggest stage.
Congratulations to the Indian cricket team for marching into the #T20WorldCup2026 Semi Final. pic.twitter.com/j8Di5hYY7C
Prithviraj Sukumaran recognised the sheer weight of the moment: “One of the greatest T20 innings ever! That too in a virtual quarter final on the World Cup stage! @imsanjusamson.”
Dulquer Salmaan also took to Instagram to post a picture of the Indian cricketer, with clapping and heart-eye emojis.
The praise didn't stop there. Tovino Thomas also enthusiastically tweeted, “What an innings!! @IamSanjuSamson,” while Kalidas Jayaram added a personal touch, writing, “Proud of you Macha (buddy).” Actor-filmmakers Basil Joseph and Nivin Pauly also chimed in, specifically lauding the cricketer's resilience on the pitch.
The victory also sparked some clever cinematic commentary. Tamil director CS Amudhan, best known for his ‘Tamizh Padam’ franchise, took a sharp dig at the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’ amid its sequel’s release. Highlighting Sanju Samson’s heroics, CS Amudhan wrote: “THE KERALA STORY: Sanju Samson takes India to the semis.”
THE KERALA STORY: Sanju Samson takes India to the semis.
— CS Amudhan (@csamudhan) March 1, 2026
Veteran actor Prakash Raj kept his reaction brief but powerful, simply posting, “Thank you @IamSanjuSamson.”
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With the West Indies officially in the rearview mirror, India is now gearing up for a high-stakes semi-final clash. The team will face off against England on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
