Sanju Samson called it a dream-like moment after being named Player of the Tournament in India’s successful T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in Ahmedabad.
The wicketkeeper-batter said the award felt emotional after years of hard work, belief, and bouncing back from tough moments in his career.
“It feels like a dream. Very happy and grateful. I am out of words and out of emotions,” Samson said after receiving the prestigious award.
Samson played a key role in India’s title defence with several match-winning knocks.
He scored three fifties in the knockout matches and stayed calm in high-pressure situations, helping India lift the trophy in front of a packed crowd.
The 31-year-old revealed that his journey towards this moment began much earlier.
He said the process started nearly two years ago when he was part of India’s squad in the 2024 T20 World Cup but did not get a single game.
“To be honest, it started one or two years before. When I was in the 2024 World Cup team where I didn’t play, I kept visualising and working hard. This was exactly what I wanted to do,” he said.
Samson admitted there were moments when his confidence took a big hit.
After a difficult tour of New Zealand, he said he felt completely broken and unsure about what the future held.
“After the New Zealand series I was broken. My dreams were completely shattered and I was thinking about what I could do next,” Samson revealed.
Instead of giving up, he chose to keep believing and continue working on his game.
“But God had different plans. I was rewarded for being brave enough to dream,” he added.
Tendulkar’s guidance
Samson also credited cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar for helping him regain clarity and confidence in recent months.
He said he stayed in touch with Tendulkar regularly and often discussed his game and mindset with the batting great.
“For the last couple of months, I have been in constant contact with Sachin sir. I reached out to him and had big conversations with him,” Samson said.
“Getting guidance from someone like him, what more can you ask for? I am very grateful for everyone who supported me,” he said.
For now, Samson said he simply wants to soak in the moment before thinking about the next goal.
“This itself is very big for me. I want to enjoy it right now and after a few days I will figure out what more I want to do,” he said.