Kolkata, March 1 – For a cricketer whose career has frequently swung between promise and doubt, salvation came on the biggest stage. Standing tall after guiding India to a historic chase against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Sanju Samson reflected on a journey defined by resilience and belief.
“It means the world to me. I think from the day I started playing, I started dreaming of playing for the country, I think this is the day I’ve been waiting for. And I’m very grateful, very thankful. And I’ve always had a very special journey with a lot of ups and downs, but I’ve kept doubting myself, kept thinking, what if, what if, can I make it, can I make it? But I’ve kept believing, and I’m thankful to God for blessing me today. So I’m very happy,” Samson said after being named Player of the Match.
His unbeaten innings of 97 off 50 balls was not just a match-winning performance; it was the defining moment of India's campaign in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, sealing a semifinal clash with England. Samson's innings was shaped as much by experience as by temperament, forged through years of observing and learning from the sidelines.
“Yes, I think that's why I've been playing this format for a long time. I think playing in the IPL for 10 to 12 years and playing for the country for the last 10 years, I haven't been playing, but I've been watching from the sidelines, learning from greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and observing what they do. I think that's very important. I think that really helped me. I've only played maybe 50 or 60 games, but I've watched around 100 games, and I've seen how the best players have finished games and how they adapt their game to the situation,” he added.
Chasing 195 in a virtual quarterfinal, Samson showed remarkable composure, adjusting his tempo as wickets fell around him.
“So, I think in the last game, we were batting first, so it was all about setting a high score. So, that's how I wanted to go big from the start. But this game was completely different. I think as soon as I wanted to go a bit higher, we were losing wickets. So, I wanted to build a partnership and focus on my process. And I never thought I would achieve something like this, but I just focused on my role and on one ball at a time. I’m very grateful,” he said about his innings.
Even as the pressure mounted, Samson relied on mental discipline to stay focused. Speaking about the crowd's cheers, Sanju said, “Yes, definitely, they bring a lot of energy and support. But I think on the other end, there's always a question, what if not? So, that keeps playing in your mind. But when that thought kept coming, I just focused on the present and trusted myself to react according to the situation. So, I think that worked out pretty well today.”
On a night when India needed certainty, Samson delivered not just runs, but also belief. The defending champions will now face England in the second semifinal on March 5 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
