Sanju Samson recalls Rohit Sharma’s advice after being dropped during T20 World Cup

By Arjun Nair / 21.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 21 July 2026 — 3 min read

Rohit Sharma’s initial advice

Sanju Samson, the wicketkeeper-batter, has shared insights into a challenging period during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. After being excluded from India’s playing XI in the later stages of the tournament, Rohit Sharma offered words of encouragement. However, Samson admitted that he initially struggled to accept Sharma’s reassurances.

Following a disappointing five-match T20I series against New Zealand leading up to the World Cup, Samson’s place in the team was uncertain. Despite this, Rohit Sharma conveyed to Samson that he would still have a significant role in India’s campaign, telling him, “Don’t be disheartened, brother. It is a long tournament. You’ll get your chance. The opportunity can come anytime.”

Samson reflected on this conversation, stating that he did not believe Sharma at the time. He noted that he was visibly upset, remarking, “You could see it on my face; I was a bit off that day.” The disappointment persisted even as India’s World Cup campaign commenced, making it difficult for him to immediately move past the setback.

Path to rediscovery

The Kerala batter explained that it took him some time to recover from the initial disappointment. He mentioned that he typically needs at least a week to process such setbacks. Samson described going through a phase of four or five days before he managed to regain his focus and get back on track. He acknowledged that he does not conceal his feelings, and his emotions were evident during that period.

Samson viewed this challenging period as an opportunity for self-reflection. He began to question his motivations for playing cricket and his purpose in the sport. This introspection helped him reconnect with his identity as a cricketer. He described this process as “rediscovering myself while the World Cup was going on,” which ultimately led to a positive shift in his mindset.

During this time, Samson also recognised that he might have been overdoing his practice. He realised the importance of being in a happy and mentally sound state, a lesson he attributed to the New Zealand series. He also observed that Ishan Kishan had moved ahead of him in the pecking order, particularly after Kishan’s strong performances, including winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Jharkhand.

Tournament turnaround

Samson’s journey in the T20 World Cup 2026 culminated in a remarkable turnaround. He delivered a match-winning performance against the West Indies in a Super 6 match, which was a crucial virtual quarter-final for Team India. He scored 96 not out in that game, a knock he prepared for extensively after the Zimbabwe match.

He described the game against the West Indies as one of those days where “everything just feels right.” Samson, who typically opens, noted that his game plan is to attack after the powerplay. However, during that particular match, wickets fell at the other end whenever he felt it was time to accelerate, teaching him to adapt his approach. He ended the tournament as India’s highest run-scorer and the third-highest overall, accumulating 321 runs in just five matches.

Samson finished the tournament with an 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 T20 World Cup edition. His exceptional performances earned him the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award as India lifted the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on home soil.

He recorded scores of 96 not out, 89, and 89 in the last three matches for India, including the semi-final and final.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com