Kerala businessman distributes Rs 2.5 lakh among staff after Sanju Samson's T20 World Cup heroics

This was not the first time he had rewarded staff members during the tournament.

A garment entrepreneur from Kerala has drawn attention locally after distributing cash gifts to dozens of employees following India’s victory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final, saying the moment carried personal meaning for him because it reflected a dream he once hoped to achieve himself.

Nithin Babu, 37, who runs clothing businesses in Pampady in Kottayam, announced that each of the 82 workers employed at his two garment stores would receive Rs 2,000 following India’s win against New Zealand national cricket team in the final on Sunday, Onmanorama reported.

The match saw Sanju Samsondeliver a crucial performance, scoring 89 runs from 46 deliveries, which contributed to India securing their third title in the tournament.

For Nithin, the moment brought back memories from years earlier when he was a student in Bengaluru.

At the time, he was studying for a degree after moving from Pampady. He worked part-time to support himself while completing his studies. During his daily commute on a motorcycle, he would regularly pass a cricket training academy. Each evening he slowed down near the facility and stood outside the grill, watching young players practising with full equipment.

Cricket had always been his passion and he believed he possessed the ability to pursue the sport seriously. However, structured training and professional coaching were financially out of reach. After watching the sessions from outside the ground, he would eventually leave and continue home, carrying the hope that one day he might represent India.

Years later, when India secured victory in the T20 World Cup final and Samson played a decisive role, the memory resurfaced.

Nithin said the moment prompted an emotional response. “When Sanju achieves something, it feels as if I have achieved it myself. That is the feeling every Malayali has,” he told Onmanorama. “He does what many of us only dreamed of doing. So the happiness we feel is the same.”

The celebration quickly turned into a gesture for his workforce. The Rs 2,000 payment for each of the 82 employees amounted to Rs 1.64 lakh in total.

This was not the first time he had rewarded staff members during the tournament.

Earlier in the competition, when India defeated the West Indies national cricket team in the Super Eights stage at Eden Gardens, Samson scored an unbeaten 97. Following that innings, Nithin distributed Rs 500 each to the 62 employees at his main garment outlet in Pampady’s Ponnappan City, handing out a total of Rs 31,000.

When Samson followed that performance with another major contribution — scoring 89 runs at Wankhede Stadium during India’s semi-final victory over England national cricket team — the reward increased to Rs 1,000 per employee, amounting to Rs 62,000.

Explaining the decision, Nithin said celebrating with employees felt natural. “Sanju achieved something I once dreamed of doing. How could I sit quietly without celebrating it? And celebrations are always better when shared with the people who stand with us,” he said.

Nithin’s interest in cricket began in childhood. He regularly played in local tournaments and represented his college side.

During his final year of school, while studying in Class 12, he was selected to join the Kottayam Cricket Club. However, the opportunity required him to purchase a full cricket kit. “When I asked my parents to get one, they refused,” he said.

Later, while studying Business Management in Bengaluru, he again considered pursuing the sport. Passing the cricket academy on his daily route, he once enquired about enrolling in coaching sessions. The monthly fee, however, was Rs 8,000 — exactly the same amount he earned from his part-time job.

“That’s when I realised it was impossible,” he said.

After completing his studies, Nithin continued working in several companies in Bengaluru before eventually moving to Kerala. He later joined a company at Technopark. During that period he also married his long-time partner, Blessy.

“I was heading the marketing department of a company at Technopark when I decided to quit and start my own business,” he said.

The venture began with a small clothing store called Feya Garments, located in Pampady’s Ponnappan City. The shop was named after his eldest daughter, Feya Nithin. Blessy joined the business from the beginning and helped run the venture alongside him.

Reflecting on the path he eventually took, he said the inability to pursue cricket ultimately pushed him to focus on building a career in business.

“I could not chase my dream of becoming a cricketer because of financial constraints and lack of support. Life then became a struggle to build a business,” he said.

Even today, cricket remains central to Nithin’s life. “When Sanju is at the crease, it feels as if I am standing there. The tension, excitement and pride — everything feels personal,” he said.

“I told them that if Sanju got a chance, he would become the player of the series. And that is exactly what happened,” he said. After Samson’s innings in the Super Eights match, Nithin said he struggled to sleep that night.

“It was around 3 am when I decided to reward my staff,” he recalled.

Watching Samson bat has now become something of a ritual in his household. When matches take place, Nithin often watches while wearing cricket pads and gloves, with a bat and helmet placed beside him.

Some of his employees occasionally join him to watch matches at his home.

At 37, Nithin now operates a business that records an annual turnover of roughly Rs 30 crore. He said recognising employees has always been an important part of running the enterprise.

On one occasion, a group of senior staff members told him they had never travelled by air and believed they never would. In response, Nithin arranged a two-day trip to Goa for eight employees. The trip included flights, accommodation, meals and recreational activities.