Sanju Samson, a member of the Indian T20 World Cup 2024 squad, has revealed that he was asked to stay ready to play in the tournament's final. But at the last moment, India captain Rohit Sharma decided to go with the same XI for the summit clash against South Africa in Barbados on June 29.
Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the only members of the Indian squad not to play a game in Men in Blue’s triumphant campaign in T20 World Cup.
"I had a chance to play the final. I was told to stay ready. I was ready. However, they decided before the toss that we would go with the same team. I was like, no worries. I was in that type of mood," Samson told journalist Vimal Kumar in an interview.
India chose Rishabh Pant as their keeper-batsman throughout the competition. The left-hander was making his comeback to international cricket after a long injury layoff, and he played some important knocks in difficult conditions in the group stage in the United States.
But he was unable to contribute significantly to India's cause in the business of the tournament, which was moved to the Caribbean islands. India used the same XI in both the Super Six and knockout stages.
Samson said Rohit walked up to him during the warm-ups before the final broke the news about his exclusion from the XI but came back again, trying to explain the reasons behind it.
"During the warm-up, Rohit took me to the side and started to explain to me why he was making that decision. He was like, You understood, na? You know his way, very casual? I told him, 'Let us win the match and then talk.' You focus on the match.
He came back one minute later and said, 'I know you are cursing me in your mind.' I think you are not happy. I feel like you have something on your mind. Then we had a discussion. I told him, 'As a player, I want to play,” Samson added.
Samson stated that his biggest regret would be not being able to participate in a World Cup final under Rohit's captaincy. Samson expressed gratitude to Rohit for spending time with him before the toss rather than focused on the players who will play in the final.
"Since childhood, I wanted to come here and do something. Then he was like, 'My pattern is like this' and all that. I said I totally respect that you came and explained me. I said, 'I will have a regret; I could not play a World Cup final with a leader like you.' This will be a regret in my heart that I missed a World Cup final with a leader like Rohit Sharma. That will stay in my life,” Samson added.
"After this, I thought, such a big thing like a World Cup final. Before the final, you have changed your decision. You spent 10 minutes with the player that is not playing just before the toss. He gave me 10 minutes before the toss. After that, I got to know this person has some other qualities.
If I were in their place, I would be thinking about the players who are playing or my batting. I will explain to Sanju later; that is what normally you think. At that point, he thought 'I have to explain to Sanju, why I took that decision.' At that point, he won a place in my heart that will stay for a lifetime,” Samson concluded.
