Kerala Congress Condemns Racist Remark Against Cricketer Sanju Samson

The Kerala Congress has formally complained to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding a racist comment aimed at cricketer Sanju Samson after his impressive performance in a T20 World Cup match. Following the match, a derogatory post surfaced online, prompting outrage among fans and calls for action against cyberbullying. Sanju, who scored 97 runs in the match, has chosen to take a break from social media to focus on his game. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of racism in sports and the need for stronger measures against such behavior.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 3, 2026, 11:11 IST

Racist Comment Sparks Outrage

Kolkata: The Kerala Congress has lodged a formal complaint with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding a deeply offensive racist remark aimed at cricketer Sanju Samson. This incident occurred shortly after Sanju's outstanding performance led India to a significant victory over the West Indies in a vital T20 World Cup Super 8 match, ensuring their advancement to the semifinals.

During the match held at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on Sunday, Sanju was the standout player, scoring an impressive 97 runs off just 50 balls, which secured India's win. However, a controversial post surfaced on X shortly after the game. The post featured a photo of Sanju accompanied by a repugnant caption: 'Only a black power can defeat black powers, well played Sanju Samson.' This statement was a disgraceful racial insult directed at both Sanju and the West Indies players.

The post ignited a significant backlash online, with fans expressing their outrage and condemning the user for the racist comment regarding Sanju's skin color. The Kerala Congress also voiced their concerns, calling for stringent action. They tagged Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a post on X to express their discontent.

The Congress's statement read: 'This kind of vile racism has absolutely no place in India. We urge @AshwiniVaishnaw to take immediate action against the person behind the account who posted this disgusting comment targeting Sanju Samson, the pride of Kerala.' pic.twitter.com/uVlVr1PNbN

Interestingly, after the match, Sanju shared with Star Sports that he is taking a break from his phone and social media. 'I believed in my abilities. I switched off my phone and social media and focused on myself. I am very happy to have been able to win the match for the team in such an important game,' Sanju remarked.

While fans are commending Sanju for his resilience and ability to ignore external negativity, there is an increasing call for decisive action against such forms of cyberbullying.