Sanju Samson made 321 runs in 5 T20 World Cup games with a strike rate of 199.37.
Samson made a stunning return to the India XI during the just-finished tournament, overcoming inconsistency and stints on the bench to become India's highest run-scorer. He delivered key performances when it counted the most, scoring a streak of half-centuries from the virtual quarterfinal against the West Indies, in the semifinal against England, and then in the title match against New Zealand.
Samson won the Player of the Tournament award for his 321 runs in five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37 with three fifties. His tally included 27 fours and 24 sixes, and he finished as the third-highest run-getter in the tournament.
Samson said that while he had always wanted to see the nation reach such a significant milestone, he never thought it would turn out the way it did.
"Unbelievable. I think I already said before I had the dream to achieve this, but I didn't know it would happen so exactly in this current moment. So very grateful. I absolutely don't have words for it, to be very honest. I know, I think genuine prayers and genuine wishes are very powerful, and when they are given by such a huge crowd, I think I can't ask for more. I think they definitely, genuinely wish and pray for me,” Samson said in a video shared by BCCI on their social media.
India defeated New Zealand in the final by 96 runs and became the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times. They are also the first team to successfully defend its title and the first host nation to win the T20 World Cup at home.
Reflecting on the love he received from followers across the country, Samson stated that the prayers of supporters meant more to him than any personal accomplishment.
"I believe that is far more important than anything else in my life. I want to thank each and every one of you out there who have wished for me, who have prayed for me. Thank you so much, and this means the world to me. You definitely can have a dream; you can definitely think that that's what you want to achieve, but you can't plan the way to get there. That is something only one person can do. I actually lost it,” Samson added.
Before the T20 World Cup, the wicketkeeper-batsman had a poor home T20I series against the Black Caps, scoring only 46 runs in five games. Samson stated that he feared his ambition had been destroyed following the series against New Zealand.
“I think I left it alone after the New Zealand Series. I thought my dream was broken. I actually wanted to do this, wanted to be the man for India in this World Cup, but after the New Zealand series, I thought that I didn't utilize my opportunity, and the dream is broken. But I think the world and God's grace turned things around, and I'm very happy about what has happened here,” Samson concluded.
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