Rohit Sharma breaks silence on uplifting Sanju Samson after axing in T20 World Cup 2026
Table of Contents
Former India National Cricket Team captain Rohit Sharma believes that he has shaped himself through many tough situations in his life, and he backed Sanju Samson through one such identical situation. Rohit mentioned how keeping your focus is crucial during such phases, and he was just trying to keep Samson from getting frustrated.
Before Sanju Samson made his majestic rise for India on the occasion of the ICC T20 World Cup, he was not even a part of the playing XI for India coming into this World Cup. His only appearance came in the second game against Namibia, since Abhishek Sharma missed out due to ill health.
However, one man who kept backing him during these tough times was former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. He had reassured him on the very first day when they met at the Wankhede ahead of the game against the USA, and his words paid off when Samson finally played one of India's most memorable T20 World Cup innings three weeks later at the Eden Gardens.
Rohit Sharma breaks the silence on uplifting Sanju Samson's morale
After Rohit was immensely praised for his unwavering support for Sanju, he simply admitted that he himself went through such a phase during the early days of his career. Known to all, Rohit was not regular to the T20I side until 2012 and played his first major T20 World Cup tournament for India as an opener in 2014.
"I can sometimes feel the pulse of the player. I been myself at that place where, you know, when I've been in a tournament like this, my chances haven't come. It's important to stay focused and try to do the right things and not get frustrated with you not getting the opportunity," said Rohit Sharma.
"That's what I felt for him, because he was consistently playing for India and then was dropped just before the World Cup started. I just wanted to tell him it's a long tournament, and funny things have happened in the past. So I just wanted to reassure him that your chance will come, and so it happened," Rohit reflects on Sanju Samson's rise through the tough times.
"It was a crucial game for India, and he played a blinder," the former captain praised Samson, who stood up for India when it mattered the most.
View this post on Instagram
Rohit Sharma's journey with the Indian team: A brief Trivia
Rohit Sharma, the young boy from Mumbai, made his debut for India back in 2007 as a 20-year-old cricketer. Rising through many occasions for India, which included some handy innings in India's victorious 2007 T20 World Cup campaign, or the iconic Commonwealth Bank series triumph for India on Australian soil.
Rohit has always been significant to the Indian team, but amid the superstars of the game, Rohit could not find a permanent spot for himself in the XI. He played almost the first 6 years of his career in the middle order before MS Dhoni realized his potential at the top of the batting order.
He got his breakthrough with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir slowly being sidelined from International cricket, and Rohit stepping in for India. Rohit scored a double century in ODIs in 2013, the third by an Indian batter in the format, and ever since then, he has never looked back.
He went on to be one of India's greatest ever white-ball cricketers, with the third-highest all-time runs for India in ODIs and the most in T20Is. He captained India to two ICC trophies and is one of India's finest record holders in the ICC ODI World Cups. He is still up for grabs in the 2027 CWC for India.
Sanju Samson was a part of the India squad in the 2024 T20 World Cup
However, Sanju Samson was not backed by the former Indian captain the last time in 2024. He was part of the India side as their second-choice keeper-batter, but Rohit Sharma and then coach Rahul Dravid stuck to Rishabh Pant, despite not very consistent performances from the Southpaw.
Samson won his first-ever ICC trophy sitting on the bench and without making a single appearance. He made his World Cup debut in 2026 against Namibia and will have the chance to win his first-ever trophy by making a real contribution when India takes on New Zealand on Sunday.
ALSO READ: Ayush Mhatre’s Rohit Sharma praise creates buzz in CSK camp
Tagged:
India National Cricket Team India vs New Zealand ICC T20 World Cup India vs West Indies India vs England Sanju Samson Rohit Sharma New Zealand National Cricket TeamAbout the Author
This author is a member of Cricketaddictor who writes news and analysis related to cricket.
