Sanju Samson reflects on Rohit Sharma’s advice during T20 World Cup 2026

By Sanjay Menon — 21 July 2026 — 4 min read

Initial Disappointment and Rohit Sharma’s Counsel

Sanju Samson has shared insights into a challenging period during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where he was initially excluded from India‘s playing XI. Despite the setback, Rohit Sharma, then captain, offered words of encouragement that, at first, did not resonate with Samson. Sharma’s message to Samson was, “Dukhi mat ho bhai. It is a long tournament, kabhi bhi mauka aa sakta hai,” which translates to, “Don’t be disheartened, brother. It is a long tournament. You’ll get your chance. The opportunity can come anytime.” This conversation took place after Samson experienced a disappointing five-match T20I series against New Zealand leading up to the World Cup.

Samson admitted that he found it difficult to accept Sharma’s words at the time due to his disappointment. He recounted feeling visibly upset, stating, “To be honest, I didn’t believe him at that time. Sorry. He might have spoken from his heart or from his experience, but that day I wasn’t able to see what he was seeing. You could see it on my face; I was a bit off that day.” The wicketkeeper-batter from Kerala explained that the disappointment lingered for several days, making it hard to move past the initial exclusion.

The World Cup campaign for India commenced just two days after the series against New Zealand. Samson noted that it typically takes him at least a week to recover from such phases. He mentioned that he prefers not to suppress his feelings, which meant his disappointment was evident. This challenging period lasted for four or five days before he managed to regain his focus and get back on track mentally.

Rediscovery and Redemption

The initial disappointment ultimately served as a catalyst for Samson‘s self-reflection and rediscovery of his cricketing purpose. He began to question his motivations for playing cricket, asking himself, “why do I play cricket? What’s my purpose?” This introspective journey occurred concurrently with the ongoing World Cup, leading to a renewed sense of clarity and determination.

Samson acknowledged that he had been struggling to secure a spot in the playing XI, particularly with Ishan Kishan performing strongly. He observed Kishan’s impressive form, noting that Kishan had almost single-handedly won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Jharkhand and was batting at a different level. This made it clear to Samson that Kishan had moved ahead of him in the pecking order for selection.

He reflected on his own performance in the New Zealand series, where he had scores of 24, 6, 6, 10, and 0 in five matches. In contrast, Kishan had scored around 70 runs and later a century in the series. Samson understood that an in-form batter would naturally be preferred for the World Cup. He felt that his World Cup prospects seemed to be over at that point, and his only option was to quietly support the team.

Despite the early challenges, Samson’s journey in the tournament culminated in a significant turnaround. He delivered a match-winning innings of 96 not out against the West Indies in a Super 6 match, which was crucial for India. He described this performance as one of those days where everything felt right, similar to some of his centuries in the IPL and for India. He prepared meticulously for this game after the Zimbabwe match, understanding its importance for India.

Samson explained his approach during the game, noting that while he typically aims to accelerate after the powerplay, wickets falling at the other end prompted him to adjust his strategy. He realized that the game itself was guiding his decisions, teaching him what was needed in that specific situation. This pivotal innings marked the beginning of a remarkable redemption arc for Samson in the tournament.

Ultimately, Sanju Samson emerged as the Player of the Tournament, playing a crucial role in India‘s victory in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on home soil. He finished as India‘s highest run-scorer and the third-highest overall, accumulating 321 runs in just five matches. His performance included an outstanding average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37. He also set a tournament record by hitting 24 sixes, the most by any batter in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com