Our Bureau
Mumbai
India’s T20 World Cup hero Sanju Samson has said that long, honest talks with Sachin Tendulkar changed his game and helped him produce a dream tournament. The wicketkeeper‑batter was named Player of the Tournament after India lifted the trophy for a record third time.
Samson went into the World Cup under pressure after a poor T20 series against New Zealand earlier in the year, where his form and confidence dipped badly. He later admitted he felt “broken” and unsure about his future in international cricket. At that stage, he decided to reach out to Tendulkar, seeking clarity on mindset, preparation and how to handle failure at the highest level.
Over the next two months, Samson and Tendulkar stayed in regular contact, with what Samson called “big conversations” about batting and mental toughness. Tendulkar, he said, helped him focus on game awareness, shot selection and staying calm under pressure. Samson also revealed that the legend continued to check on him even during the World Cup, including on the eve of the final.
The impact was visible on the field. Samson finished as India’s leading run‑scorer in the tournament with 321 runs in just five innings, scoring three successive 80‑plus knocks in the knockout stage. His 89 off 46 balls in the final against New Zealand gave India a huge total and set up a 96‑run win in Ahmedabad.
Calling the turnaround “like a dream”, Samson said he was grateful for Tendulkar’s guidance and for the faith shown by the team management.
