Initial Disappointment and Rohit Sharma’s Counsel
Sanju Samson has shared insights into a challenging period during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 when he was not included in India’s playing XI. Despite being left out in the later stages of the tournament, Rohit Sharma offered words of encouragement to the wicketkeeper-batter. However, Samson initially found it difficult to accept Sharma’s reassurances.
The situation arose after Samson experienced a difficult five-match T20I series against New Zealand leading up to the World Cup. Despite this, Rohit Sharma conveyed to Samson that he still had a significant role to play in India’s campaign. Sharma reportedly told him, “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.”
Reflecting on that time, Samson admitted that he was too disheartened to fully believe his captain’s words. He stated, “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 Samson even after India’s World Cup campaign had begun, making it challenging for him to move past the setback immediately. He mentioned that it typically takes him at least a week to recover from such phases and that his feelings are often evident if he is not feeling completely well. He described going through this difficult phase for four or five days before he was able to regain his focus.
Rediscovering Purpose and Redemption
Samson viewed the initial setback as an opportunity for self-reflection, which ultimately helped him to reconnect with his core purpose as a cricketer. He questioned his motivations, asking himself why he played cricket and what his purpose was. This period of introspection allowed him to rediscover himself while the World Cup was in progress, leading to a resurgence in his performance.
He acknowledged that at the start of the T20 World Cup 2026, he was aware that Ishan Kishan had moved ahead of him in the team’s pecking order. Samson noted that after a series where he had low scores, and another player like Kishan performed exceptionally well, it was clear that an in-form batter would be preferred. He felt that his World Cup prospects seemed to be over at that point, and his only option was to quietly support the team.
The Kerala batter eventually scripted a significant turnaround in the tournament. He finished as the Player of the Tournament as India secured the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title on home soil. After his initial exclusion from the playing XI due to a lean run of form, Samson fought his way back into the side.
Samson concluded the tournament as India’s highest run-scorer and the third-highest overall. He accumulated 321 runs in just five matches, maintaining an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37. He also set a tournament record by hitting 24 sixes, which was the most by any batter in a single T20 World Cup edition. His performance included scores of 96 not out, 89, and 89 in the last three matches for India, encompassing the semifinal and final games.
One of his notable performances was a match-winning 96 not out against the West Indies in a Super 6 match, which was a crucial game for Team India. Samson described this game as one where everything felt right, similar to other centuries he had scored in the IPL and for India. He explained that his usual game plan involves accelerating after the powerplay, but in that particular match, wickets falling at the other end prompted him to adapt, demonstrating that the game itself guides a player’s strategy.
Prior to the IPL 2026, Samson was traded to Chennai Super Kings from Rajasthan Royals for Rs 18 crore.
Read Also
- Rohit Sharma addresses retirement speculation after Lord's century
- Argentina could face disciplinary action after World Cup final brawl and semi-final banner
- Spain celebrates World Cup victory in Madrid as Argentina faces investigation
- Argentina's post-final conduct draws criticism after World Cup defeat to Spain
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
