Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has opined that India won’t have won the T20 World Cup if Sanju had not become part of XI. Samson was included in the Super 8 stage match against Zimbabwe after India suffered a crushing 76-run loss against South Africa.
Samson returned with scores of 97(50), 89(42), and 89(46) in the virtual quarterfinals, semifinal and final of the tournament, respectively. The right-hander was awarded Player of the tournament after he scored 321 runs in five matches at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.38.
Samson delivered in the three big matches and played a key role in India’s success.
Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “If Sanju Samson had not become part of the playing XI again in the World Cup, this World Cup might not have been won. A brilliant innings was seen against West Indies, an amazing innings was seen against England, and then the third consecutive half-century was also seen in the final. He saw many ups and downs. Just keep doing the work. Never lose courage. God definitely sees the reward of hard work, and the sweet reward of Sanju Samson’s hard work is perhaps the sweetest of all.”
Pathan praised Samson for breaking Virat Kohli’s record of most runs by an Indian batter in a single edition of the T20 World Cup despite playing only five matches.
“He became the Man of the Tournament, and in the same World Cup also became the Indian player with the most runs in a single edition, even surpassing Virat Kohli, that too when he did not even play all the matches of the World Cup. Still, he attacked from the very first over in every game. It sent a clear signal to the opposition that they would not be able to attack him; instead, he would attack them. Even in the final against Matt Henry, the first four deliveries he bowled were very good. But then he used the crease, stepped a little forward, and smashed the next ball that was pitched up.
“This kind of form was extremely important for our top-order batter to maintain, and that form belonged to Sanju Samson. I also believe that Sanju Samson’s story will be recorded in the pages of history as an inspirational one. He has become an inspiration for those people who never want to give up and who always keep searching for the path to success,” he concluded.
Samson will be next seen in action while playing for CSK in IPL 2026.
