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www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 27 SPORTS March 13, 2026 Samson Rises From Year Of Struggle To Become India’s World Cup Hero I ndia opener Sanju Samson’s rise from not being a preferred opener to finishing as the player of the tournament became the campaign’s most compelling redemption arc as the hosts retained the men’s Twenty20World Cup title. The 31-year-old arrived at the tournament under scrutiny after enduring a prolonged slump in form through last year and into the early stages of this one. His returns were modest and in- consistent, and questions grew over whether India could continue back- ing a player whose promise often outpaced his output. Samson, who did not play a game in the 2024 edition despite being in the squad, made 46 runs in five T20 in- ternationals against New Zealand before the start of this year’sWorld Cup and his place in the team looked anything but guaranteed. “Right after the New Zealand series, I was broken, I was completely out of my mind,” said Samson in the post-match presentation. “I was like my dreams have shattered, what else can I do?” Samson played only one game against Namibia in the T20World Cup group stage and scored 22 off eight balls. He returned against Zimbabwe in the Super Eight but scored only 24. The narrative changed when the stakes rose. The wicket-keeper-batter peaked in the knockouts, reeling off three succes- sive 80-plus scores and finishing as the tournament’s third-highest run-scorer with 321 runs. “God had different plans,” he said. “I suddenly came back into the crucial games, and did what I could for my country. So I’m very proud and happy that I was courageous enough to dream about it.” Samson struck 89 in India’s total of 255-5, setting up a 96-run win over New Zealand in the final and registering the highest individual score in a T20World Cup final, capping a campaign in which he also hit a record 24 sixes in a single edition. He credited India legend Sachin Ten- dulkar for his preparation and mindset. “From the last couple of months, I’ve been in constant touch with Sachin (Tendulkar) sir… reached out to sir and had huge conversations with him,” Samson said. “Getting guidance from someone like him, what more can I ask for – that clarity, game preparation, aware- ness and sense.” SPECIAL TALENT Head coach Gautam Gambhir hailed Samson’s performances and called him a ‘special player’ whose surge validated the value of backing talent through lean stretches. “He deserves a lot more than actu- ally he’s got till now,” Gambhir said. “There was never any doubt on his talent. It was just about going out there and just be as free as he wanted to be. “He has shown it to everyone that when you start believing in yourself, nothing matters to you apart from that.” Samson’s turnaround mirrored India’s own – less about personal peaks and more about collective purpose. “Imagine if he would have been play- ing for a milestone, probably we wouldn’t have got 250,” Gambhir said. India have now become the first team to lift the T20World Cup title three times. -Reuters Celebrate Trophies, Not Personal Milestones, Says India Coach Gambhir I ndia’s success has been powered by a deliberate move away from celebrat- ing individual milestones, head coach Gautam Gambhir said on Sunday after the team retained their Twenty20World Cup title. India thrashed New Zealand by 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium to become the first team to win the tourna- ment three times, sealing back- to-back titles after their 2024 triumph. Gambhir, appointed shortly after they lifted the trophy in 2024, said he set the tone early in his tenure that personal landmarks would not determine selection, and that approach helped India commit fully to a dominant style under captain Suryakumar Yadav. “My simple philosophy with Surya has always been that milestones don’t matter. It’s the trophies that mat- ter,” Gambhir told reporters. “For too long in Indian cricket, we’ve spoken about milestones. And I hope that till I’m there, we’re not going to talk about milestones.” He pointed to opener Sanju Samson’s run of form as an example of the team’s evolving mindset. Samson, who was out of form last year and struggled for runs at the start of theWorld Cup, struck his third successive 80-plus score in the final and repeatedly lifted India in knock-out games. “Sanju made 97 not out (againstWest Indies)… Imagine if he would have been playing for a milestone, probably we wouldn’t have got 250,” Gambhir said. “Stop celebrating mile- stones. Celebrate trophies. That is going to be impor- tant because the bigger purpose of a team sport is to be winning trophies, not scoring individual goals.” He also praised Suryakumar’s brand of leadership. “Surya has made my life a lot easier in this format. I think he’s a phenomenal leader. He very rightly mentioned that he doesn’t want to be called a captain, he wants to be called a leader,” Gambhir said. “Because a leader is a far bigger figure in a dressing room than a captain.” With India now holding three T20World Cup titles, Suryakumar said the side would definitely aim to chase gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, when they will also target another T20World Cup crown. -R euters PHOTO:REUTERS/AMIT DAVE PHOTO:ACTION IMAGESVIA REUTERS/PETER CZIBORRA/FILE PHOTO ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Final – India v New Zealand – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India – March 8, 2026 India’s Suryakumar Yadav lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup International Test Match Series – Fifth Test – India Practice Session – Kia Oval, London, Britain – July 30, 2025 India head coach Gautam Gambhir looks on during practice. PHOTO:REUTERS/AMIT DAVE PHOTO:REUTERS/SAHIBA CHAWDHARY ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Final – India v New Zealand – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India – March 8, 2026 India’s Sanju Samson walks after losing his wicket. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Final – India v New Zealand – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India – March 8, 2026 India’s Sanju Samson celebrates with teammates after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup By Suramya Kaushik By Suramya Kaushik