‘My heart was broken after New Zealand series ended’: Samson wins Man of the Tournament award in T20 WC
Sanzhou Samson After playing a decisive role in the Indian national cricket team’s title-winning run, he won the Player of the Tournament award, capping off a remarkable run at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Samson finished with 321 runs, a remarkable achievement considering he played only 5 games. The 31-year-old was not included in India’s eleven-man squad at the start of the World Cup and was selected in the team after India’s loss to South Africa’s national cricket team. Since then, the wicketkeeper-batsman has produced a string of match-winning performances.
His campaign was highlighted by three consecutive half-centuries at the most crucial stage of the tournament. Samson first scored a brilliant unbeaten 97 against West Indies in the virtual quarter-final to lead India to victory in a nail-biting chase. He then scored 89 in the semi-final against the England national cricket team and then another 89 in the final against the New Zealand national cricket team.The Indian batsman also rewrote several records during the tournament. Samson hit 24 sixes, the most by a player in a single T20 World Cup tournament. His 89 in the final is now his highest personal score in a T20 World Cup final, surpassing Marlon Samuels’ 85 in 2016 and Kane Williamson’s 85 in 2021.Samson’s 321 runs are also the highest by an Indian batsman in a single T20 World Cup, surpassing Virat Kohli’s record of 319 in the 2014 tournament.His consistency has also placed him among the elite, scoring half-centuries in both the T20 World Cup semi-finals and the final. Before Samson, only Shahid Afridi in 2009 and Virat Kohli in 2014 had achieved this feat.Speaking after winning the award, Samson reflected on the decisive game of his career.“Feels like a dream. So happy and grateful. There are no words, no words.” [On his three fifties, thought process] To be honest, this started a year or two ago. When I’m not playing in the 2024 World Cup squad, I’ve been imagining, continuing to work, which is exactly what I want to do. After the NZ series I was devastated and my dreams were shattered. I wonder what I can do. But God had different plans. I was rewarded for dreaming big. A lot of former players have reached out to me and tried to help me. ““I have been in touch with Sachin sir over the past few months. I have contacted him and had extensive conversations with him. To be mentored by someone like him, what more can you ask for? I am very grateful to everyone who has supported me. [What more does he want to achieve?] That in itself is very important to me and I want to enjoy it now and then in a few days figure out what else to do. “
