Sanju Samson’s laugh is infectious and so is his batting.
For years, though, his career seemed built more on promise than performance, a talent that was more talked about than realized. He never quite lived up to the early hype that surrounded him when he first appeared on the scene.
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Still, watching Samson bat was always a pleasure. There is a lazy elegance to his stroke play, reminiscent of Rohit Sharma at his most fluid. His movements in the crease are simple and controlled. Sometimes a little backward movement or gentle pressure on the front leg is all it takes to shift his balance.
Then comes the free-flowing arms that allow the bat to swing smoothly along the line. This light flow of the bat once caught the attention of West Indian great Brian Lara and turned him into an admirer of Samson’s batting.
Now, years later, Samson seems to be enjoying the moment he and his fans have been waiting a long time.
“I just waited with a lot of patience, a lot of inner work, a lot of training and practice. I should definitely be very grateful, but we still have one more step to go. If we do that, then I think all the work was worth it,” Samson said.
“One more match, then I will feel very light.
That remark came after another scintillating knock in the semi-finals.
Samson, relieved after producing back-to-back winning innings, knows his work is far from over. India became the first defending champions to reach the final thanks largely to Samson, who won the man of the match award in consecutive games, first for his unbeaten 97 against the West Indies last Sunday and then for his 89 against England’s bowlers in Thursday’s semi-final.
When India won the T20 World Cup in 2024, Samson spent the entire tournament on the bench. He had waited a long time for his opportunity, and although his moment had not yet come, it always felt close.
At the start of this T20 World Cup, the situation seemed familiar. At 31, Samson once again found himself out of the playing XI. He was part of the team but out of form and with no clear way back, especially with other batsmen performing well. Samson led the Indian team to the final (Courtesy: AP)
Now, Samson has led India to the final of the T20 World Cup. But it’s not done yet. The keeper wants one more match-winning strike to help India secure a record third title.
Samson’s dramatic turnaround in this tournament mirrored India’s run to the finals, propelled by two brilliant knocks under knockout pressure over the past week.
After starting the tournament on the bench following a disappointing January series in New Zealand, Samson forced his way back into the limelight. The return to form also paid off for him nomination for the prestigious ICC Player of the Tournament award in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, which concludes at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Interestingly, Samson is the only Indian among the eight players shortlisted by the ICC shortly after India’s thrilling seven-run win over England in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday night.
HITS AND MISS CAREER
Samson’s international journey began with a solitary T20I appearance against Zimbabwe in 2015. That cap ensured he would always be an Indian international, though he spent the next few years mostly on the sidelines playing for Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. This performance remained his only international outing for over five years.
He returned to the Indian set-up in 2020 with a loyal fan base who believed he could be groomed as MS Dhoni’s successor behind the stumps. But the competition was intense. Keepers like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have already competed for places across formats. Samson finally fulfills his promise (Courtesy: AFP)
As India started rotating players, Samson started getting more opportunities. Gradually, the numbers began to increase. The weight of runs he produced in domestic cricket and the IPL was hard to ignore.
With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from T20 internationals after their 2024 World Cup triumph, the race for a top-order spot has opened up. Samson found himself in competition with players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Even then, he remained on the sidelines at the start of this World Cup. Ishan Kishan opened alongside Abhishek Sharma while Rinku Singh was preferred in the XI.
Once Samson returned to partner Abhishek Sharma at the top, the impact was immediate. Since his reinstatement, he has averaged 32, while in T20 internationals he has scored 165. His biggest contributions have come under pressure.
LIVE YOUR DREAM
Two consecutive man-of-the-match performances helped India reach the final against New Zealand. The latest came in the semi-final against England in Mumbai, where he smashed seven sixes in a brilliant 89.
Not too long ago, Samson lost his place in the Indian team due to lack of runs. He has now made his mark with scores of 97 not out in a virtual knockout against the West Indies and 89 against England in the semi-final, at a time when Abhishek Sharma was struggling for runs.
Despite the applause, Samson insists the job will only be done if India lift the trophy in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
“It’s a really great or relieving feeling that I’ve been trying to do something like this for my country for a few years,” Samson told reporters after India beat England by seven runs in the second semi-final.
This T20 World Cup has turned into a redemption story for Sanju Samson. After years of waiting and uncertainty, he’s finally living the dream he’s been chasing for a long time – and he has no intention of waking up just yet. One final chapter awaits in Ahmedabad, where Samson is now just one innings away from completing a hat-trick of mercurial knocks and fulfilling his role as the protagonist in India’s T20 World Cup story.
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Published on:
March 8, 2026 08:04 IST
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