From setbacks to comeback: The journey of Sanju Samson

After months marked by highs and lows, finally, Sanju Samson has turned his journey around, earning the Player of the Tournament award at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. From the start of his career, everyone knew he had the potential to become a legendary player for the Indian team, but he never got a proper opportunity in the playing XI to showcase his ability. However, he became an opener in T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Just a couple of months ago, during the T20 World Cup 2026, he was completely out of form, which caused him to miss his opening slot in the playing XI, leading to his dropping from the squad. But fortunately, he got chances to play in matches. He was continually in and out of the playing XI. Before the World Cup, Sanju completely failed against New Zealand. After that, he was dropped from the World Cup’s starting XI. 

However, fortunes turned for him during the Super 8s, when India lost their first Super 8 match against South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. After that loss, India was close to elimination. In that situation, coach Gautam Gambhir once again showed faith in Sanju and included him in the playing XI. He scored 22 runs against Namibia in the group stage, in the absence of Abhishek Sharma. Against Zimbabwe, he scored 24 runs off 15 balls, but he couldn't extend his innings too long; however, the innings showed he was back in form. 

Following this, India faced the West Indies in a knockout match, where WI set a target of 197 runs for India. In that situation, Sanju stepped up and played a match-winning, unbeaten 97 runs. Subsequently, India faced England in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Sanju scored 89 runs and laid the foundation for India's qualification for the finals. Then, in the final, he again scored 89 and laid the foundation for India’s World Cup victory.

Sanju Samson scored 321 runs in 5 innings, including 5 half-centuries. He played with an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.38. He became India’s leading run scorer in this tournament. According to many fans, Sanju missed his 3 consecutive centuries, but Sanju clearly said, he doesn’t even think about his personal milestones (to score a century), he just wants to win the World Cup. 

After becoming the player of the tournament, he expressed his feelings in the post-match presentation ceremony. 

"It feels like a dream, actually (smiles). Very, very happy, very grateful. Out of words, out of emotions. I’m just going through it, so feels a bit surreal. (on his three consecutive match-winning knocks) To be very honest, I think, sir, I think this started one to two years before. When I was with the 2024 World Cup-winning team in West Indies, I couldn’t play a game. I kept on visualizing. I kept on dreaming. I kept on working. This is exactly what I wanted to do then. I thought I need to work in, I need to put in so much of work that this is exactly what I wanted to achieve. 

And by God’s grace, I think today things have turned around. I think right after the New Zealand series, I was broke [broken]. I was completely out of my mind. I was like, okay, my dreams have shattered. Okay, what else can I do? But God had different plans. I think I suddenly came back into the crucial games and I did what I could for my country. So, I think I’m very proud and very happy that I was courageous enough to dream about it. And actually, things have turned up so nicely for me. So, very grateful.

Sanju Samson also mentioned the greats of the game, Sachin Tendulkar. He said that he has been in constant touch with Sachin Tendulkar in his poor phase. 

“I have been in constant touch with Sachin Tendulkar sir. I think when I was outside, sitting outside in Australia, I was not playing a game. So, I thought about, okay, what is the mindset required now? So, I reached out to sir and I had huge, huge, big conversations with him. And right yesterday also, he called me up to check how am I feeling. So, I think, getting a guidance from someone like him, what more can I ask for? I think that clarity, that game preparation, that game awareness, that game sense, I think I’m very grateful for everyone who supported me.”