The story of Sanju Samson is not for the faint of heart, from debuting in 2015 to come back in the team in 2020 and then again not getting a chance to play a World Cup till 2024, Sanju Samson has seen a lot of ups and downs in his career. In the 2024 World Cup, Sanju got selected for the very first time as a backup wicket keeper but did not get a chance to play. After Rohit retired from the format, Sanju Samson became a regular in the team and made a record by smashing three centuries in T20Is in one calendar year.
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When everything was going right, the Indian team picked Shubman Gill as vice captain in the Asia Cup and Samson lost the opening place. Coming to bat at number five in the Asia Cup, he lost his rhythm and that led him to sit on the bench in the dugout for most of the time. After Shubman Gill’s bad performance, when Sanju came back in the opening spot in the New Zealand series Sanju failed miserably. That led the management to bring Ishan Kishan and Sanju again lost his place.
The comeback
Warming the bench in the first match of the World Cup Sanju got a place in the second game against Namibia where he scored 22 runs in 8 balls, he again warmed the bench in the next three matches and came back in the team in place of Rinku Singh against Zimbabwe game and scored 24 runs in 15 balls.
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He changed his own script by playing a 97 runs innings against West Indies in Eden Gardens, continuing the fine form he had hammered, 89 runs against England and demolished New Zealand in the finals. Scoring 321 runs in just 5 matches Sanju Samson won the man of the series.
Sanju Samson credits Sachin Tendulkar for his form
After winning the man of the series tournament, Sanju disclosed that he had been in constant touch with Sachin Tendulkar. Talking about his mindset, he said that when he was sitting outside in Australia, and had not played a game he reached out to Sachin Tendulkar and asked about what mindset is required now? And had a big conversation.