Mumbai: Sanzhou Samson When reminded that he had missed two centuries, his reaction was swift. “Missed it? I didn’t miss two centuries. One of the best moments of my life is happening, so I’m grateful,” he said.That’s been Samson’s World Cup so far. His unbeaten 97 off 50 balls helped India tie West Indies for 196 in the virtual quarter-finals in Kolkata. This was followed by a fearless 89 against England in the semi-finals.Against England, Samson finished with a score of 97 Ishan Kishan Then add 43 with Shivam Dube. It’s clear that his decade of experience has made him aware of his role.
“My timing with the ball is good and I make the right decisions. I have played 300-400 T20 games, batted from No. 1 to No. 6 and captained an IPL team. I understand the needs of the team and my role in the XI. This clarity helps you score runs the way you want,” he said.For a player who has struggled with inconsistent chances, scrutiny and self-doubt for years, Samson finally seemed to be on his way to victory. When asked if he felt relaxed, the 31-year-old quipped: “One more fight and then I will feel relaxed.”“I waited patiently, worked hard, trained a lot. But we have further to go. If we do it, it will all be worth it,” he said.From being dropped after the series against New Zealand to playing hero in the World Cup semi-finals, the Kerala batsman has risen like a phoenix. “That phase was very challenging,” he admits. “I tried a little too hard to make an impact and get into the World Cup XI. In T20s, even the best runs are difficult.”Samson is one of 8 nominees Player of the TournamentSanju Samson’s name appears in the ICC’s eight-man shortlist for the best player in the T20 World Cup.The others are England’s Will Jacks, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan, South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi and Aiden Markram, New Zealand’s Lachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert and American bowler Shadli van Schalkwijk.
