One player captain Rohit Sharma will always hold a special place in the hearts of millions of Indian fans and his words of wisdom to Sanju Samson have proved to be right on the money. Finally Sanju Samson got his chance and he took advantage of it in some style.
Sanju Samson’s innings against West Indies will always be remembered as one of the greatest innings played during a run chase. He has been compared to the standards of the great Virat Kohli, as his innings were brilliant and flawless.
Samson not only played a masterclass innings but also lasted the entire 20 overs of the Indian innings and led India to victory, reminding Indian fans of former T20I legend Virat Kohli, who is known to do the same on several occasions.
“Don’t be discouraged,” Rohit Sharma’s valuable advice to Sanju Samson came in handy
Despite form, Sanju Samson was not considered for a starting spot in the Indian T20I team and was replaced by Shubman Gill throughout 2025. Since he was dropped from opening the innings, Samson soon lost his rhythm and failed to perform well against New Zealand as well.
At the start of the World Cup, Indian players including Sanju Samson were seen talking with former Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who was part of the opening ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as an ICC ambassador.
Rohit then told Sanju Samson that he should not be disappointed, he will get a chance in the long run, as it is a very long tournament with many matches.
Rohit Sharma told the Indian opener, “Kaisa hai (How are you?). Don’t be sad (Don’t be disappointed) – it’s a long tournament – you will get a chance.”
ICC lauds Sanju Samson for brilliant World Cup innings, uses Rohit Sharma reference
ICC praised the Indian opener after his brilliant innings. He made a video celebrating his innings against West Indies. The video was uploaded on the official Instagram handle of ICC.
The video begins with former captain Rohit Sharma sharing a warm hug with Sanju Samson during India’s first game of the tournament against the United States. The former captain’s priceless words can be seen coming to fruition when the video shows the turnaround on Day 23 of the World Cup, where Samson finally gets his chance.
Samson was given support in the team against Zimbabwe and he gave India a good start at the top. But this time he not only gave them a chance in the game but also helped them reach the semi-finals.
Will Sanju Samson’s form help India drop Abhishek Sharma from the XI?
Sanju Samson’s excellent form in the shortest format of the game can help India in many ways. If the opener can take the driving seat for India, then the other opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been largely out of touch in this tournament, could be dropped by the Indian management.
Samson’s form could mean that he could be paired with Ishan Kishan from the semi-finals. Although Abhishek has an excellent record against England, his figures in the World Cup are a matter of big concern for Team India. Rinku Singh can be brought in to strengthen the lower order.
Also read: Sanju Samson, the new Virat Kohli! India, Pakistan legends are in awe after T20 World Cup masterclass
