Sanju Samson delivered three match-winning performances in successive games to help defend the T20 World Cup title at home. He deservedly earned the Player-of-the-Tournament accolade after finishing as the third highest run-getter, with 321 runs from just five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37.
The wicketkeeper-batter wasn’t part of India’s XI at the start of the competition, but India’s loss to South Africa in the Super 8s paved the way for his return as the team management decided to break the left-hander's sequence at the top to nullify the effect of rival off-spinners.
Samson repaid the faith emphatically as he produced 97* (50 balls) in the virtual quarterfinal against the West Indies, an attacking 89 (42 balls) against England in the semifinal, and another 89 (46 balls) in the final against New Zealand, powering India to a record third T20 World Cup title.
Reflecting on his redemption journey after a terrible T20I series against New Zealand, Samson highlighted a significant mental shift, where his desire to serve the team outweighed his initial apprehension about competing with teammates for a place in the XI.
"I am the type of a person who do much better for others than doing things better for myself. In that series (against NZ), I was competing with my own people (for a place in the team) and I was not very comfortable with it," Sanju said during India Today Conclave.
Sanju Samson admitted that failing to find a spot in the playing XI during the early stages of the tournament left him "absolutely broken" and "desperate".
"I was too desperate knowing that my dream is so near. But was the team still trying some combinations? So, is Sanju there or not there? So, that kind of feeling played in my mind at that time.
"I was absolutely broken because my dream was to win the World Cup and I am not even in the XI. So, actually I was gone away for 5-6 days and I started rebuilding myself. Started preparing myself knowing you never know what the game want to give back to you," he said.
After featuring in the Group A clash against Namibia due to Abhishek Sharma’s illness, Samson received a much-awaited chance during India's Super 8 match against Zimbabwe at Chepauk and didn’t look back.
"I knew the team management had trust in me. When the World Cup came in I kind of figured out now that the team wants you, so that is the mindset change which happened in my head.
"So, right from the Zimbabwe game, we had to win four out of four matches and the team needs you. So, that's when it became very positive for me, and I was very fired up," Sanju said.
Samson’s opening partner Abhishek stepped up in the final after struggling throughout the tournament. The southpaw slammed the fastest half-century of the tournament in just 18 balls en route to 52 off 21. His knock, laced with 6 fours and 3 sixes, laid the foundation of India’s mammoth 255/5 in 20 overs, which proved to be too much for the Kiwis, who were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.
Abhishek was delighted to be able to make a contribution in the title clash. "From the day, I started playing cricket the only goal was firstly was to play for the country and then once you played for the country, the ultimate goal is to win the ICC trophies for your country.
"It wasn't the start I wanted, but still I was happy that because the team was doing well and we were still winning the game," Sharma said.
"Obviously, I had a dream that I wanted to be a world champion one day and it's just not about one trophy, as it's all about how many trophies I can win for my country and that's all I play about," he noted.
Abhishek said he enjoyed his alliance with Sanju at the top of the order. "Sanju bhai has always been a very sorted guy. Very loving guy, very caring guy. You know once these kind of players you have in your team then you feel that you have someone behind you. So that's always been Sanju Samson for us."
Sanju then explained what makes partnership with Abhishek ticks. "I actually have that kind of combination going right from the World Cup of 2024 as we both have done this more often actually. So, we have kind of a Punjabi friendship going in the middle.
"So we keep it very simple, so I really love batting with Abhishek 'Lala', but I really love his character. He's a very brave and open-hearted kind of a kid and I really love his partnership on and off the field," he added.
(With PTI Inputs)
