New Delhi, March 9 – Veteran cricketer Sunil Gavaskar praised Sanju Samson's remarkable turnaround, highlighting his key contributions during India's historic T20 World Cup campaign. Samson, who initially faced challenges, emerged as a vital player, delivering impactful knocks in crucial knockout matches against England and New Zealand.
Samson's explosive performances in the last three matches of the T20 World Cup, including the semi-final against England and the final against New Zealand, were particularly noteworthy.
Gavaskar commented on Samson's performance: "Sanju Samson has truly come full circle. Before the 2026 T20 World Cup, he had a difficult series against New Zealand. He was initially dropped, but after the tournament began, he got an opportunity to play against Namibia, although his performance wasn't enough to secure his place."
He further added, "His next opportunity came against Zimbabwe in the Super 8, and that's where his real redemption began, particularly against West Indies in a virtual quarter-final."
Samson, who initially served as Rishabh Pant's backup wicketkeeper, faced similar challenges in the previous edition, struggling to score runs against New Zealand. Despite being preferred for the wicketkeeper's role, he could only manage 46 runs in five T20Is at an average of 9.20.
However, after India's defeat in the group stage against South Africa, the team reconsidered, giving Samson a chance against Zimbabwe. He delivered a stunning performance, scoring 24 runs in 15 balls, setting the stage for India's 256/4.
This performance boosted his confidence, leading to a brilliant 97 not out in a virtual quarter-final against West Indies at Eden Gardens, which helped India reach the semi-finals.
He then scored 89 against England in the semi-final and repeated the same score in the final, helping India post another 250+ total before defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in Ahmedabad to win the unprecedented third and second successive T20 World Cup title on Sunday.
Gavaskar emphasized the importance of clutch performances: "These games decide your fate and define your career. Delivering impactful performances in high-pressure situations requires exceptional skill."
He added: "To overcome the pressure of failure and then deliver the best performances of your career in three consecutive high-pressure games is what Sanju Samson has achieved."
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar highlighted the difficulty of defending a world title: "Winning the T20 World Cup back-to-back is a massive achievement. This is the best moment in Indian cricket history."
Jasprit Bumrah's stellar performance in the T20 World Cup was also praised. He took 4/15 in the final against New Zealand, helping India restrict them to 159 in 19 overs.
Bumrah's most impactful spell came in the semi-final against England, where he conceded only six runs in the 18th over, preventing Jacob Bethell from scoring crucial runs.
Gavaskar praised Bumrah: "Bumrah is rightfully a national treasure. He can make even the best batsman on any team have a bad day. His performance throughout the 2026 T20 World Cup has been remarkable."
Bumrah's ability to step up in crucial moments was also highlighted. "Whenever India needs a wicket in a crucial phase, Bumrah always comes to the rescue. We have seen that more often than not, in tough situations, the Captain looks to Bumrah. He knows he is one of the best."
