Gautam Gambhir reveals inside story of Sanju Samson's redemption after T20 World Cup victory
Published - 15 Mar 2026, 05:23 PM | Updated - 15 Mar 2026, 05:24 PM
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The Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson had started the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on the sidelines but ended up as the Player of the Tournament, having played a crucial role in the team’s successful title defense at home.
The Men in Blue had suffered a heavy 76-run loss against South Africa, which forced the team management to rethink their strategy for the rest of the Super 8 matches. And Sanju Samson was drafted back into the playing XI for the must-win clash against Zimbabwe.
Sanju Samson’s explosive knock powers India to ICC T20 World Cup title glory
The Kerala star played a quick knock of 24 runs from 15 balls in that game, and then he delivered a stunning knock of an unbeaten 97* against the West Indies to help the side secure a semifinal spot. Samson then played two strong knocks of 89 and 89 to help India lift the third trophy.
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Days after the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that the decision to bring back Sanju Samson was not made to counter off-spin bowling, as many people believed at the time. The real idea behind this move was to add more attacking intent at the top and make the team more dangerous in the power play.
Gautam Gambhir reveals the real reason behind bringing Samson back
Gautam Gambhir was quoted as saying by JioHotStar, "I know a lot of people will talk about how we wanted to break the three left-handers at the top, but not at all. We just felt that we wanted to be more explosive because the ideology in the last one and a half years has been to go out there and be as explosive as we can be.”
The head coach further added, “The reason to bring in Sanju Samson was not about managing the off-spinner from the other end. It was about whether we could get even more firepower at the top and be more aggressive in the first six overs.”
How Sanju Samson got surprise call from Gautam Gambhir?
With the tournament reaching a crucial stage, the Indian team management decided to go with a more aggressive option, and Samson grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Interestingly, the moment when Samson was told about his return to the playing XI was very simple. Gambhir revealed that he told the right-handed batter during a casual chat in the gym.
Gambhir further explained, “We know what Sanju can do; there was never any doubt about his talent and explosiveness. If he gets going, he can win you the game in the first six overs.
I conveyed it to him in the gym. In fact, we were both training together, and I just told him that you'll be playing against Zimbabwe, and he said, 'Let it come.' That's the kind of casual conversation we have. It's not like a head coach's and player's relationship. It's a relationship where most of our one-on-one conversations happen during practice sessions.”
Notably, Samson will next be seen in action in the upcoming IPL 2026, where he will make his debut for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He would now be keen on continuing his red-hot form in the league.
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Sanju Samson Gautam Gambhir India National Cricket Team ICC T20 World Cup India vs New ZealandAbout the Author
Rashmi Wasnik is a passionate content writer with over a decade of experience. She started her journ...
