Initial Disappointment and Rohit Sharma’s Reassurance
Sanju Samson, the wicketkeeper-batter, has shared insights into a challenging period during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. After being excluded from India’s playing XI in the later stages of the tournament, Samson initially struggled to accept the situation. His disappointment followed a series of low scores in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand leading up to the World Cup.
Despite Samson’s struggles, Rohit Sharma, then captain, offered words of encouragement. Sharma reportedly told Samson, “Don’t be disheartened, brother. It is a long tournament. You’ll get your chance. The opportunity can come anytime.” This interaction occurred as Sharma embraced Samson, conveying a message of future opportunity.
Samson, however, admitted that he did not fully believe Sharma’s words at the time. He recalled feeling visibly upset, 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. You could see it on my face; I was a bit off that day.”
The disappointment lingered for several days, making it difficult for Samson to immediately move past his exclusion. He noted that it typically takes him at least a week to recover from such setbacks, and his feelings were evident on his face. The World Cup campaign began just two days after the New Zealand series, contributing to his prolonged period of reflection.
Path to Rediscovery and Redemption
Samson eventually used this setback as an opportunity for self-reflection and rediscovery. He began to question his purpose in cricket, asking himself why he played the sport. This period of introspection helped him reconnect with his motivations as a cricketer.
He described this phase as being at the bottom, from which the only direction was up. “I started working on myself mentally. I started asking myself questions, why do I play cricket? What’s my purpose? It was like I was rediscovering myself while the World Cup was going on. And then everything just came back,” Samson explained.
Before the World Cup, Samson was aware that Ishan Kishan had moved ahead of him in the pecking order. Kishan’s strong performances, including winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Jharkhand and scoring significantly in subsequent matches, highlighted his form. Samson acknowledged that after his own lean patch, it was clear that an in-form batter like Kishan would be preferred.
Samson’s journey culminated in a significant turnaround during the tournament. He delivered a match-winning innings of 96 not out against the West Indies in a Super 6 match, which was a crucial game for India. He prepared differently for this game, drawing on past experiences where everything felt right.
This performance marked the beginning of a remarkable redemption story for Samson. He finished the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as the Player of the Tournament, playing a pivotal role in India lifting the trophy on home soil. He ended the tournament as India’s highest run-scorer and the third-highest overall, amassing 321 runs in just five matches at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37. Additionally, he set a tournament record with 24 sixes, the most by any batter in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
