Thiruvananthapuram, March 9: Cricket is often seen as a game of statistics, yet it has revealed surprising coincidences over the years. India has won the Cricket World Cup five times, and each victory has featured a notable connection to Kerala. Whenever the Indian men’s team clinches the World Cup, a player from Kerala has always been part of the squad.
This trend began with India’s historic win in the 1983 Cricket World Cup under the leadership of Kapil Dev, which included Kerala’s fast bowler Sunil Valson. Although Valson did not play a single match during the tournament, he still earned the title of World Cup winner.
India ended a 25-year drought for World Cup titles by winning the T20 World Cup in 2007. The team included Sreesanth, a Malayali player who not only made his mark on the winners’ list but also played a crucial role in the victory. Fans still remember his spectacular catch on the last ball of the final match.
This same player was part of the victorious ODI World Cup team in 2011, leading fans to refer to him as the ‘Malayali lucky charm.’
In 2024, India claimed the T20 World Cup title for the second time, featuring Kerala’s wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson. However, he did not get the chance to play in that edition.
During the 2026 T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson initially struggled to impress fans in his first two innings. Yet, he became the hero of India’s victory in the last three matches. Samson scored an unbeaten 97 runs against the West Indies, securing a spot in the semifinals. He followed this with an impressive 89 runs against England, propelling India into the finals. In the championship match, he contributed another 89 runs, playing a significant role in India’s triumph.
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