Published on: Mar 9, 2026 5:14 pm IST|Updated on: Mar 9, 2026 5:14 pm IST
Dreams do come true, and Sanju Samson is a prime example of this phrase. Enduring perhaps the lowest phase of his international career, Sanju Samson turned the tide in his favor when he got an opportunity to represent Team India in this World Cup and was ultimately crowned the Player of the Tournament, courtesy of his imperious showing.
But how did things fall into the right place for Sanju after the dreadful last 4-5 months of 2025? It all happened due to one man, the one and only Sachin Tendulkar. Sanju Samson’s journey in the T20 World Cup 2026 was nothing short of remarkable. From warming the bench in the early stages to becoming the “Player of the Tournament,” Samson’s resurgence was a story of resilience, mentorship, and sheer talent. But how did Sachin Tendulkar help in bringing out the best version of Sanju Samson? Let’s discuss.
Samson openly credited Sachin Tendulkar for helping him overcome a mental slump. After securing the prestigious Player of the Tournament record of the T20 World Cup 2026, Sanju, in the post-match presentation, emphasized how Sachin’s advice bring the change in him. Here’s what Sanju said during the post-match presentation.
“It feels like a dream, actually (smiles). Very, very happy, very grateful. Out of words, out of emotions. I’m just going through it, so feels a bit surreal. (on his three consecutive match-winning knocks) To be very honest, I think, sir, I think this started one to two years before. When I was with the 2024 World Cup-winning team in West Indies, I couldn’t play a game. I kept on visualizing. I kept on dreaming. I kept on working. This is exactly what I wanted to do then. I thought I need to work in, I need to put in so much of work that this is exactly what I wanted to achieve. And by God’s grace, I think today things have turned around. I think right after the New Zealand series, I was broke [broken]. I was completely out of my mind. I was like, okay, my dreams have shattered. Okay, what else can I do? But God had different plans. I think I suddenly came back into the crucial games and I did what I could for my country. So, I think I’m very proud and very happy that I was courageous enough to dream about it. And actually, things have turned up so nicely for me. So, very grateful. (on what pleased him most about his batting today?) Yes, sir. I think to be very honest, lot of guidance and suggestions from our senior players in the former Indian team have really reached out to me and they tried to help me out. But I think from last couple of months, I think I hope I can share it here. I think I have been in constant touch with Sachin Tendulkar sir. I think when I was outside, sitting outside in Australia, I was not playing a game. So, I thought about, okay, what is the mindset required now? So, I reached out to sir and I had huge, huge, big conversations with him. And right yesterday also, he called me up to check how am I feeling. So, I think, getting a guidance from someone like him, what more can I ask for? I think that clarity, that game preparation, that game awareness, that game sense, I think I’m very grateful for everyone who supported me. Yeah, sir (anything he wants to achieve in the future?). I think but this itself is very big for me. I need to enjoy it right now. And then I think after few days, we’ll figure out what next to do (smiles).”
This advice became the turning point, allowing Samson to bat with clarity and confidence.
Total: 321 runs in 5 innings, Average 80.25, Strike Rate 199.37
Samson’s consistency and impact earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. His ability to deliver under pressure was unmatched, and his strike rate of nearly 200 highlighted his aggressive intent.
Tags: T20 World Cup 2026