New Delhi, July 21: Sanju Samson played a pivotal role in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup 2026. The wicketkeeper-batsman revealed that he initially struggled to believe Rohit Sharma‘s confidence in his role during the tournament.
Samson was dropped from the playing eleven in the final stages of the tournament. However, he regained his confidence and delivered one of the most memorable innings against the West Indies.
Recalling a challenging period after the New Zealand series, Samson admitted he felt mentally exhausted and could not see the path Rohit envisioned for him.
“I honestly didn’t believe him at that time. I’m sorry. He might have said it from the heart or based on his experience, but I couldn’t see what he was seeing that day. It was evident on my face; I was a bit troubled,” Samson shared with ‘GeoStar.’
The disappointment of being left out lingered until the early rounds of the World Cup, making it difficult for him to move forward quickly.
“Our World Cup campaign started just two days after the New Zealand series. I needed at least a week to recover. I don’t like to bottle things up, so if I’m not feeling 100%, it shows on my face. I went through that phase for four to five days before getting back on track,” he explained.
The 31-year-old from Kerala noted that this setback ultimately became an opportunity for self-reflection, prompting him to reconsider his motivations for playing cricket.
“You know you’ve failed, so what’s next? You’re at your lowest, so the only way is up. I started working on myself mentally. I began asking myself why I play cricket. What is my purpose? It felt like I was rediscovering myself during the World Cup. Then everything fell back into place,” he said.
This new perspective laid the foundation for his match-winning innings (97*) in the virtual quarter-final against the West Indies. He described this performance as one of those special days when everything clicks. “After the Zimbabwe match, I prepared better for that game. There have been many days in the IPL and while playing for India when I scored centuries and everything felt right. This was one of those days. You just enjoy it, live in the moment, focus on the process, and things start to happen,” he added.
While scoring quickly after the powerplay is his natural style, Samson acknowledged the need to adapt his approach due to the falling wickets at the other end.
“I knew it was a big match for India. I usually start playing aggressively after the powerplay. I’m an opener; if I get through the powerplay and our team bats until number eight, my game plan is to dominate the bowling. But in that match, whenever I felt it was time to attack, another wicket fell. That’s when I realized that the game is the greatest teacher. It tells you what to do,” he remarked.
Samson also discussed his emotional celebration after the innings, stating it was a way to express gratitude rather than a personal victory. “It was a very personal celebration, but it became very public. I’m very spiritual. I believe in my God and know that I didn’t do this alone,” he said.
The wicketkeeper-batsman mentioned that there were moments during his innings that surprised him, reinforcing his belief that he was merely a conduit for helping the team.
“I’ve played so many innings that I know which shots I’ve played, but some shots make me think, ‘How did I play that shot?’ I’m just very grateful that it happened through me, that I could help the team. That moment will stay with me until my last breath. It was very special,” he concluded.
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