India’s talented batter Sanju Samson admitted his T20 World Cup selection was the best thing that could have happened in his career. Samson was picked in India’s T20 World Cup squad on the back of consistent performances in IPL 2024.
Samson scored 531 runs in 15 innings at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.46, with five half-centuries. Thus, he played a key role in taking RR to the playoffs but they lost the second qualifier against SRH.
Samson said in a video uploaded by BCCI, “This is the most prepared or experienced Sanju Samson can come into a World Cup. 10 years of lots and lots of failure, few successes here and there. Life and cricket have taught me everything before we came to this crucial tournament.”
The Kerala batter admitted the T20 World Cup selection was on his mind while leading Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
“IPL had covered a lot of mind space for me, there was a lot to cover, a lot to do. Being the captain of the side, my mind was always occupied but somewhere at the back of my head it was there — World Cup selection. “It was a huge thing, one of the best things that could ever happen to my career. Those thoughts kept on playing. I knew that I had a good season in IPL where I do have my chances to get in. But at the same time, I knew how tough it is and it can either be both sides.”
“It depends on what the team wants, what the exact combination our team management, and selectors are looking for. So the moment I got convinced that ‘Yes, Sanju you’re ready’. I think life and cricket gave back to me. So, that’s how look at it. It was a great moment,” he continued.
The flamboyant batter added that having veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the dressing room is inspiring and motivating.
“Right from the moment I landed here, IPL has been completely off and it’s a completely different stage. I’m telling myself that, ‘Sanju you’re somewhere lots and lots dream about. OK, boss, what else do I need to do? I need to do hit the gym session, I need to do my recovery, I need to do the practice session,” Samson elaborated.
“Mentally, I don’t have to motivate myself. Automatically, things were supposed to happen, and it was happening. When you meet Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. You look at them, then you get inspired and motivated. There is no looking back and only looking front. How can Sanju Samson help the Indian team to win more games? It has always been to understand what it takes to be a World Cup cricket for an Indian team and how badly I want it,” he added
India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5th.
