Kamal Ghorui
Sanju Samson has emerged as one of India’s biggest heroes in the T20 World Cup 2026 after producing two match-winning performances at crucial moments. The wicketkeeper-batter first delivered in the must-win Super 8 clash against the West Indies cricket team, smashing an unbeaten 97 to guide India home. He then followed it up with another vital contribution in the semi-final against England cricket team, scoring a composed 89 to help India seal a place in the final. After Samson’s brilliant knock against the West Indies, the International Cricket Council shared a touching moment on social media featuring Rohit Sharma encouraging the Kerala batter earlier in the tournament. The clip showed Rohit offering reassurance before India’s opening match against the United States national cricket team, a game in which Samson was not included in the playing XI. “Dukhi mat ho bhai. It is a long tournament, kabhi bhi mauka aa sakta hai. (“Don’t be disheartened. It is a long tournament. You’ll get your chance. The opportunity can come anytime),” Rohit had told Samson while hugging him. Samson did not start the tournament in India’s playing XI after struggling during the five-match T20I series against the New Zealand national cricket team before the World Cup. However, the 31-year-old eventually got his opportunity during the group-stage clash against the Namibia national cricket team when Abhishek Sharma was ruled out due to a stomach infection. Once Abhishek recovered, Samson again found himself out of the side. His return came at the start of the Super 8 stage when the team management decided to tweak the opening combination after off-spinners repeatedly troubled Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. Since reclaiming his place, Samson has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and is now among the leading contenders for the Player of the Tournament award. Ahead of the final against the New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Rohit, who is serving as the tournament’s brand ambassador, explained why he felt compelled to speak to Samson before the campaign began. Drawing from his own experiences of missing out on the 2011 World Cup squad, Rohit said he understood the emotional challenge of waiting on the sidelines. “I can sometimes feel the pulse of the player. I have been myself in that place where, you know, when I’ve been in a tournament like this, and my chances haven’t come, it’s important to stay focused and try and do the right things and not get frustrated with you not getting the opportunity, and that’s what I felt with him,” said Rohit in a video shared on Instagram by the ICC. Interestingly, Samson had also been part of India’s triumphant squad in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 but did not get a single game during that campaign. This time, however, he has made a significant impact and currently sits as India’s third-highest run-scorer in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, behind Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. Rohit admitted he could relate to Samson’s disappointment at the start of the tournament and wanted to ensure the batter stayed mentally ready for when the opportunity eventually arrived. “Because he was consistently playing for India and then was dropped just before the World Cup started, you know, I just wanted to tell him that it’s a long tournament and funny things have happened in the past, so I just wanted to reassure him that your chance would come. So it happened in the game where it was a crucial game for India, and he played a blinder,” said Rohit. So far in the tournament, Samson has been in outstanding form. He is averaging 77.33 with an explosive strike rate of 201.73. The wicketkeeper-batter has already collected two Player of the Match awards and has been shortlisted among the nominees for the Player of the Tournament honour.
