India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has opened up about one of the most challenging phases of his international career, revealing how former captain Rohit Sharma’s words of encouragement during the 2026 T20 World Cup eventually became a turning point in his journey. Samson entered the marquee tournament on the back of a disappointing five-match T20I series against New Zealand and was subsequently left out of India’s playing XI for the opening matches.
With Ishan Kishan preferred as Abhishek Sharma’s opening partner, Samson found himself on the sidelines despite being part of the World Cup squad. During that difficult phase, Rohit Sharma, who was serving as the ICC ambassador for the tournament, reached out to lift Samson’s spirits. “Don’t be disheartened, brother. It’s a long tournament. You’ll get your chance. The opportunity can come anytime,” Rohit Sharma told the Kerala batter.
However, Samson admitted that he found it difficult to believe those reassuring words at the time because of the disappointment he was experiencing.
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“To be honest, I didn’t believe him then. Sorry. He might have spoken from his heart and from his experience, but I wasn’t able to see what he was seeing that day,” Sanju Samson revealed during an interaction with JioStar. The 31-year-old explained that the setback affected him mentally for several days. Having just endured a poor series against New Zealand, he needed time to process the disappointment before regaining his focus.
“Our World Cup campaign started just two days after the New Zealand series. It usually takes me about a week to recover from such setbacks. I don’t hide my emotions, so if I’m not feeling good, it shows on my face. I went through that phase for four or five days before I managed to get myself back on track,” Samson said.
Instead of allowing frustration to consume him, Samson turned the difficult period into an opportunity for self-reflection. He began questioning his purpose as a cricketer and focused on strengthening his mindset rather than dwelling on missed opportunities.
“You know you’ve failed, so what’s next? When you’re at the bottom, the only way is up. I started working on myself mentally and asking why I play cricket and what my purpose is. It felt like I was rediscovering myself during the World Cup, and gradually everything fell into place,” he added.
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When his opportunity finally arrived, Samson grabbed it with both hands. The stylish right-hander finished as India’s highest run-scorer and the third-highest scorer overall in the tournament, amassing 321 runs in just five matches at an outstanding average of 80.25 and an explosive strike rate of 199.37. His remarkable performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award and played a pivotal role in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign on home soil.
Samson’s journey from disappointment to dominance stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, self-belief and the value of patience in international cricket.
