Sanju Samson wanted to play T 20 World Cup final but… Check inside what the wicketkeeper batter said

In the tournament that led to India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson did not play a single match. Incidentally, Rishabh Pant was recovering from a long injury and marking his return to the national squad, yet the Indian team retained Pant instead of picking the in-form Samson. Dans la manière des choses, le capitaine indien Rohit Sharma had assured vedette Samson to get set as there were chances he would feature in the title match – drawn against South Africa. All this however changed just before the toss happened.

Samson claimed that it was in fact, true that he was getting ready to play in the final when Rohit told him that the same XI from the previous game would be retained.

“I had a chance to play the final. I was asked to remain prepared. I was prepared. But, they announced before the toss that we would retain the same team. I was like, fine. I was in that mood, ya,” said Samson to the journalist Vimal Kumar.

Post the playing XI decision was made, Rohit was seen to have had a prolonged chat with Samson on the reasons for the choice.

“Warm up, Rohit took me to his side and started to share with me the reason why he was making that choice. He was like, You understood, na? You know his way, very casual? I told him, ‘Forget this talk till we win the match.’ You keep your attention on the game.”

He later stated, “One minute later, he returned and said, ‘I know you are cursing me in your heart.’ You still seem to be unhappy. There seems to be something you want to say. So then we spoke about it. I told him, ‘I am a player, and I want to play’.”

Samson even told Rohit that he did not want to pass this chance of not playing in a final match under his captaincy. It is a regret that he will carry for the rest of his life.

He then continued, “He returned after a minute and told me that I was probably cursing him in my thoughts. I don’t think you are in a good mood. It seems to me that you have something to say. And then came a discussion. I told him, ‘I wish to play because I am a player.’”

Likewise, there was a moment when Rohit even courted Samson, stating how he did not wish to miss the taste of a final match with respect to captaincy, which was underneath him. This is something that he would have to accept for the rest of his life.

But still, there was something that made Samson forget what he thought about the rest to be acceptable. Instead of giving his time to the XI members selected for the game, Rohit picked up on a player who wasn’t even in the squad for the final. This aspect of Rohit only endeared him to Samson more.

“After this, I thought, such a big thing like a World Cup final. Before the final, you have quit now. Before the toss, he only spent 10 minutes for a player who was not going to play. He said I can spend 10 minutes with him, before the toss. Thereafter this person’s other side was introduced to me.

“Well, if it was me there, I would be worrying maybe about the players who are on the field or about my batting. That I will tell Sanju later; that is how one thinks normally. At that time, he thought ‘I have to tell Sanju that, because, I explained that decision.’ At that moment in time, he earned a place in my heart which will last a lifetime.”