Initial Disappointment and Rohit Sharma’s Counsel
Sanju Samson, the wicketkeeper-batter, has shared insights into a challenging period during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Following a disappointing five-match T20I series against New Zealand leading up to the tournament, Samson found himself excluded from India’s playing XI in the later stages. Despite this setback, Rohit Sharma, then captain, offered words of encouragement, assuring Samson that his opportunity would come.
Samson recounted Rohit’s message: “Dukhi mat ho bhai. It is a long tournament, kabhi bhi mauka aa sakta hai.” This translates to: “Don’t be disheartened, brother. It is a long tournament. You’ll get your chance. The opportunity can come anytime.” However, Samson admitted that he was too disheartened at the time to fully believe Rohit’s words, stating, “To be honest, I didn’t believe him at that time. Sorry. He might have spoken from his heart or from his experience, but that day I wasn’t able to see what he was seeing.” He noted that his disappointment was visible on his face.
The disappointment lingered for several days, even as India’s World Cup campaign commenced shortly after the New Zealand series. Samson explained that it typically takes him about a week to recover from such setbacks, and his feelings were evident as he doesn’t prefer to suppress his emotions. This period of reflection, however, ultimately became a turning point for him.
Rediscovery and Redemption
Samson described how this difficult phase prompted a period of self-reflection and a re-evaluation of his purpose in cricket. He began to ask himself fundamental questions about why he played the sport, leading to a process of “rediscovering myself” while the World Cup was still in progress. He felt that being at the “bottom” meant the only direction was upward, which motivated him to work on his mental approach.
During this time, Samson also acknowledged that Ishan Kishan had moved ahead of him in the pecking order. He observed Kishan’s strong performance, including winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Jharkhand and then performing exceptionally well for India, which highlighted the competitive nature of selection. Samson felt that after his own lean run of scores, it was clear that an in-form batter like Kishan would be preferred.
Samson’s perseverance paid off, leading to a significant turnaround. He scored 96 not out against the West Indies in a crucial Super 6 match, which was described as a virtual quarter-final for Team India. He prepared differently for this game, focusing on enjoying the moment and staying in the process. Despite initial plans to attack after the powerplay, wickets falling at the other end prompted him to adjust his strategy, demonstrating his ability to adapt to game situations.
Ultimately, Samson delivered one of the most notable redemption stories in T20 World Cup history. He finished the tournament as the Player of the Tournament, contributing significantly to India’s victory on home soil. He emerged as India’s highest run-scorer and the third-highest overall, accumulating 321 runs in just five matches at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37. He also set a tournament record with 24 sixes, the most by any batter in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.
His impressive performances included scores of 96 not out, 89, and 89 in India’s final three matches, which encompassed the semi-final and final of the tournament.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
