‘I’m not playing this game to prove anybody wrong’: Sanju Samson after India’s first T20I win over New Zealand

Sanju Samson celebrates after scoring 50 during the T20 International cricket tournament between New Zealand and India in Christchurch, New Zealand. India batsman Sanju Samson has stressed the importance of trusting your approach and focusing on your game despite the criticism and opinions that come with playing for the national team. His comments came after India chased down 230/6 with two balls to go to record their most successful run in T20I cricket to date, beating New Zealand by four wickets in the opening match of the five-match series.Samson said he’s not playing to silence critics. Instead, he focuses on his preparation, keeps things simple and avoids letting social media reactions influence his thinking.“To be very honest, you can’t focus on what people are saying on social media or others. You have to stay committed to the process and create the right environment for yourself. It’s not easy to play for Indian cricket, with so much noise and so many people having their own opinions. But I don’t play this game with the mindset of proving anyone wrong. I keep my cricket at the forefront like I can focus on my own thing and trust my simple process. on what I can control rather than letting outside opinions influence my thinking,” Samson told reporters after the match.

Samson supports India’s aggressive approach

Samson played a key role in the chase as he scored 67 off 33 balls to give India a strong start. However, a middle-order collapse put the team under pressure before Naman Dhir struck an unbeaten 42 off just 15 deliveries to seal victory.Samson credited India’s attacking approach through power play, middle and close overs for helping the team achieve the record chase. He said the team has continued to support this style of cricket since winning the T20 World Cup in 2024.“We approach the powerplay, mid overs and death overs very differently. Even if we’re chasing 170, if we get off to a flying start, we try to finish the game in the powerplay itself. That’s something we’ve been really good at over the last couple of years,” Samson said.He added that India must continue to trust their approach, even if it does not always yield the desired results.Samson said the team’s priority is to build on what works, play to its strengths and put the team’s interests first. India’s four-wicket win gives them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, with the second T20I next up.

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