A businessman from Kerala has won widespread appreciation after rewarding his employees with cash gifts following India’s triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final. The gesture came after a match-winning performance by Indian cricketer Sanju Samson, whose brilliant innings helped India secure victory against the New Zealand national cricket team.
The entrepreneur, Nithin Babu, who runs garment businesses in Pampady in Kerala’s Kottayam district, decided to celebrate the moment in a unique way. He announced that each of the 82 employees working in his two clothing stores would receive ₹2,000 as a token of appreciation after India’s historic win.
In the final match, Samson delivered a memorable performance by scoring 89 runs from just 46 balls. His innings played a crucial role in helping India secure its third T20 World Cup title, sparking celebrations across the country.
For Nithin, however, the victory carried a deeper emotional meaning. Years ago, he had dreamed of becoming a professional cricketer himself, but financial difficulties prevented him from pursuing the sport.
A Dream That Couldn’t Be Pursued
Nithin’s connection with cricket dates back to his childhood. Growing up in Pampady, he was passionate about the game and regularly played in local tournaments. He even represented his college cricket team during his student years.
During his school days, he once received an opportunity to join the Kottayam Cricket Club. However, the opportunity required him to purchase a full cricket kit, something his family could not afford at the time.
Later, when Nithin moved to Bengaluru to pursue a degree in business management, he continued nurturing his dream of becoming a cricketer. While commuting on his motorcycle every day, he often passed a cricket training academy. Many evenings, he would stop outside the ground and watch young players practice with professional equipment.
He even enquired about joining the academy, but the monthly coaching fee of ₹8,000 was equal to his entire income from a part-time job. Realising he could not afford the training, he eventually gave up on his dream of professional cricket.
A Celebration Shared With Employees
When India lifted the T20 World Cup trophy and Samson delivered a standout performance, the moment revived old memories for Nithin. He said watching Samson succeed felt deeply personal.
“Whenever Sanju achieves something, it feels like I have achieved it myself,” Nithin said. “He fulfils the dream that many of us once had.”
Inspired by the victory, he decided to celebrate by sharing the joy with the people who work with him. The ₹2,000 reward given to each of the 82 employees amounted to a total payout of around ₹1.64 lakh.
Not the First Reward
This was not the first time Nithin had rewarded his employees during the tournament. Earlier, when India defeated the West Indies national cricket team in the Super Eights stage at Eden Gardens, Samson scored an unbeaten 97 runs. After that match, Nithin distributed ₹500 each to 62 employees at his main garment store in Pampady.
Later, when Samson scored 89 runs during India’s semi-final victory over the England national cricket team at Wankhede Stadium, the businessman again rewarded staff members by giving ₹1,000 to each employee.
From Struggle to Success
Despite his unfulfilled cricket dream, Nithin eventually built a successful career in business. After completing his studies, he worked for several companies in Bengaluru before returning to Kerala.
He later started his own venture, opening a clothing store called Feya Garments, named after his daughter. Over time, the business expanded, and today his enterprise records an annual turnover of around ₹30 crore.
Nithin says employee welfare remains a core part of his business philosophy. On one occasion, when some of his staff members revealed they had never travelled by air, he arranged a two-day trip to Goa for them, covering flights, accommodation, and activities.
For Nithin, celebrating cricket victories with employees is simply another way of sharing happiness.
“Dreams may change, but the joy of seeing someone from our state achieve greatness never fades,” he said.
