Old message of Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson reemerged online and immediately went viral as India entered the semi-finals of T20 World Cup 2026 following a thrilling victory at Kolkata. On the eve of the tournament Rohit had advised Samson to be patient and keep believing and on Sunday night at the Eden Gardens, Samson gave one of the best knocks of his life.
It was 97 off 50 by Samson which led the Men in Blue to a five-wicket victory over West Indies in a Super 8 match and secured them a place in the last four. It never felt like going after 196 and against the two-time champions, but Samson made sure that the pressure on the scoreboard did not escalate. He played at a very steady pace with four balls remaining in the game as India completed the highest successful chase in the history of the T20 world cup.
It is interesting to note that Samson had begun the tournament on the bench. As he had little room in the league stage, again there was speculation concerning his position in the team. This is the period when Rohit, who was the ICC ambassador to the tournament, met the team and had a casual conversation with them.
“Don’t be disheartened. It is a long tournament. You’ll get your chance. The opportunity can come anytime,” Rohit had told him.
Sanju Samson returned to the XI later in the campaign, delivering a masterclass in Kolkata. Following the game, he discussed how he dealt with the frustration of sitting out. Instead of overthinking, he returned to basics, trusted his method, and even turned off his phone to avoid social media distractions.
“It means the whole world actually to me. I think right from the day I started playing, started dreaming to play for the country, this is the day I was waiting for. And I’m very grateful, very thankful. I’ve always had a very special journey with lots of ups and downs, but I kept on doubting myself, kept on thinking: what if, what if… can I make it? But I kept on believing, and thanks to the Lord Almighty for actually blessing me today,” he told Ian Bishop after the game. So I’m very happy. Yeah, I think that’s why I have been playing this format for a very long time. Playing IPL for around 10 to 12 years and being with the Indian team for the last 10 years… I have not always been playing, but I was looking from the dugout, learning from greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. It’s very important to observe, learn, and see what they were doing,” he said.
