Sanju Samson Reveals Rohit Sharma's Advice Changed His Mindset During T20 World Cup 2026

Sanju Samson News: India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has revealed how a conversation with Rohit Sharma helped him overcome one of the toughest phases of his career during the T20 World Cup 2026. Samson admitted that after being left out of the playing XI in the opening matches, he struggled emotionally and initially found it difficult to believe Rohit's words of encouragement. Looking back now, he says he regrets doubting the former Indian captain.

Sanju Samson opens up about difficult World Cup phase

Sanju Samson enjoyed a memorable T20 World Cup 2026, emerging as one of India's standout performers. However, his tournament did not begin on a positive note.

Following an underwhelming T20 series against New Zealand before the World Cup, Samson was not included in India's playing XI for the opening matches. Instead, Ishan Kishan was preferred alongside Abhishek Sharma at the top of the batting order.

The decision left Samson disappointed, and he has now shared how difficult it was to cope with that setback.

Rohit Sharma encouraged him to stay patient

Speaking during an interview with JioStar, Samson recalled that Rohit Sharma approached him after he was left out and tried to lift his spirits.

According to Samson, Rohit told him not to lose hope because the tournament was long and opportunities could come at any stage.

However, Samson admitted that at the time he was so disappointed that he found it difficult to believe those reassuring words.

Reflecting on the moment, he said he now realizes Rohit's advice came from experience and genuine concern, and he regrets not trusting his captain's perspective earlier.

Struggled to recover emotionally

Samson revealed that it took him several days to regain his confidence after missing out on selection.

He explained that the World Cup began just two days after India's T20 series against New Zealand, leaving little time to mentally recover from his previous disappointments.

The Kerala batter said he is someone who cannot easily hide his emotions, and during that period his frustration was clearly visible. He added that it took nearly a week before he started feeling mentally prepared again.

Focus shifted to self-improvement

Instead of allowing disappointment to affect his tournament, Samson decided to work on his mindset.

He said he began asking himself why he played cricket and what his real purpose was. That period became an opportunity for self-reflection, helping him rebuild confidence and regain focus.

According to Samson, once he accepted the situation and concentrated on improving himself mentally, things gradually started falling into place.

Made the most of his opportunity

When Samson finally earned his place in the playing XI, he delivered outstanding performances with the bat.

During the tournament, he scored:

• 321 runs in five matches

• Average: 80.25

• Strike Rate: 199.37

He finished as India's highest run-scorer in the tournament and played several match-winning innings.

Player of the Tournament and record-breaking campaign

Samson's remarkable performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

He also created history by smashing 24 sixes in just five innings, setting a new record for the most sixes hit in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.

His turnaround from being left out of the starting XI to becoming the tournament's best player has been widely praised as one of the standout stories of India's campaign.

A lesson in patience and belief

Sanju Samson's journey during the T20 World Cup 2026 highlights the importance of resilience, patience, and self-belief. While the tournament began with disappointment, Rohit Sharma's encouragement and Samson's determination to improve mentally helped transform his campaign into one of the finest performances of his international career.

His story serves as a reminder that setbacks can often become the foundation for future success when combined with perseverance and the right mindset.