Sanju Samson said he approached the T20 World Cup with a new game plan that helped him regain his form and play a key role in India’s title triumph. The star batsman was talking to reporters on Monday after returning to Thiruvananthapuram after the World Cup victory.Samson, who was named the Man of the Tournament, received a grand welcome at the airport. V Sivankutty, Education Minister of Kerala, welcomed him in the evening on arrival as hundreds of cricket fans gathered outside the airport and raised slogans in support of the Kerala cricketer.
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Reflecting on his change in batting approach, Samson had earlier said that he tried to attack every ball, which often led to his dismissal.“I tried to hit every ball but it didn’t work. Then I had to learn from those failures. In the five-match series I tried to increase the number of strokes but it didn’t work. Then I prepared for the World Cup with a different game plan,” he said.Samson also spoke about seeking advice from Sachin Tendulkar during a difficult phase of his career and described the experience as unforgettable.“We have been in touch because I have been messaging him for the past few years. We also spoke when we met during the IPL,” he said.According to Samson, Tendulkar was the first person he thought of approaching when he was struggling with his form.“When I contacted him, he really connected with me. He talked to me for about 25 minutes and described what happened in his career, what to think about in difficult times, how to train and how to handle situations. It really helped me,” said Samson.He added that after losing form during the New Zealand series, he once again reached out to Tendulkar and got another lead.“Even a day before the World Cup final, he contacted me and asked if everything was ready. It’s not something everyone gets and I’m very happy about it,” he said, adding that Tendulkar congratulated him after the final win.Samson also spoke about the impact of social media on players, saying that it can affect them both positively and negatively.“Young people should learn how to handle it well. From social media, I understood how much people love me. But when things go differently, one should open social media only if one can bear it,” he said.To stay focused during the tournament, Samson said he had his phone turned off for the past month.He added that his social media accounts are managed by the team.“When I cut it off, the outside noise could be controlled. When a country has a World Cup, there is a lot of outside noise. I cut it off and focused on cricket,” he said.Samson said he left Thiruvananthapuram for the last time after a poor run of form before the World Cup.“But such a twist was unexpected. We are happy now,” he said.Samson expressed gratitude to his supporters and said their unwavering support means a lot to him.“Even now, when I was not selected in the team, when I was in the team or when I was not performing, people stood by me in my failures. I felt a responsibility to return their support. I dedicate this performance to the people of the state,” he said.Samson said he was overwhelmed by the love he received from fans.“In cricket, sometimes we can perform well and sometimes we lose. My wife was showing me videos and reels of genuine support and prayers from people. When I saw that, my eyes filled with tears and I wondered if I deserved that kind of love,” he said.He said he planned to spend a few days with his parents if time allowed after his media commitments.“I have been told that there may be an event in New Delhi the next day as part of the World Cup victory celebrations. That will be confirmed soon. Then I may have to go,” he said.
