Samson credits Tendulkar talks for World Cup turnaround

Sanju Samson said conversations with batting great Sachin Tendulkar played a crucial role in helping him rediscover belief during one of the toughest phases of his career, after he was named player of the tournament in India’s victorious campaign at the ICC T20 World Cup on Sunday.

The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter revealed he had been in constant touch with Tendulkar in the months leading up to the tournament, seeking advice as he battled poor form and uncertainty about his place in the national side.

“I hope I can share it here. For the last couple of months I’ve been in constant touch with Sachin sir,” Samson said at the post-match presentation. “When I was sitting outside in Australia and not playing a game, I started thinking about what mindset I needed at that moment.”

“I reached out to sir and we had long conversations. Even yesterday he called to check how I was feeling. When you get guidance from someone like him -- about clarity, preparation, awareness and game sense -- it means a lot. I’m very grateful for everyone who supported me.”

Samson’s struggles had intensified during the T20I series against the New Zealand earlier in the year. Batting in the middle order, he managed only 46 runs across five innings, repeatedly falling while trying to accelerate the scoring. The failures not only dented his confidence but also cost him his place in the playing XI, with selectors turning to Ishan Kishan for the wicketkeeper-batter role.

For Samson, the period that followed was emotionally draining. Questions about his consistency resurfaced in the media, and he found himself watching crucial matches from the bench.

“I think right after the New Zealand series, I was broken,” Samson admitted. “I was completely out of my mind. I felt like my dreams had shattered. I kept asking myself what else I could do.”

At times, he said, the frustration of repeated setbacks made him doubt whether he would ever get another meaningful opportunity on the big stage.

“But maybe God had different plans,” he said. “Suddenly I came back into the crucial games, and I just tried to do what I could for the country.”

That chance arrived during the Super Eight stage of the tournament. With India needing victories to stay in contention, Samson produced a series of remarkable innings -- 97 not out, 89 and 89 -- guiding the team through three must-win matches. Despite playing only five games in the tournament, he finished with 321 runs at a blistering strike rate of 199.37.

Looking back, Samson said the foundation for his comeback had actually been laid years earlier when he was part of India’s squad during the 2024 World Cup in the Caribbean but did not play a single match.

“To be very honest, this entire process started one or two years before when I was with the 2024 World Cup-winning team in the West Indies,” he said. “I couldn’t play a game there, but I kept dreaming, visualising and working.”

“I told myself that one day if the opportunity came, I had to be ready. I needed to put in so much work so that I could achieve something like this.”

Now, after playing a decisive role in India’s title defence, Samson said he was still trying to process the moment.

“It feels a bit surreal,” he said. “This itself is very big for me. Right now I just want to enjoy it.”