Sanju Samson has made it clear that he is no longer interested in proving himself to others.
The Indian wicketkeeper batter revealed that before the 2026 T20 World Cup, he decided to step away from the rat race and focus only on playing cricket on his own terms.
The decision turned out to be a game changer. Samson played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph and finished as the Player of the Tournament after scoring three match winning fifties in the knockout stage.
Despite, his form dipped after the WC, and he was recently left out of India’s T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series.
Despite the setback, Samson insisted that he is not worried about selection or planning years ahead.
He said he wants to enjoy the game, back his own decisions and play with complete freedom instead of listening to outside opinions.
According to the 31 year old, whatever happens in the future will depend on his performances and the team’s requirements.
Samson also credited Virat Kohli for changing the way he looked at fitness and discipline.
He revealed that Kohli once advised him to improve his lifestyle if he wanted to enjoy a long international career. While he admitted he couldn’t follow that routine for long, the conversation left a lasting impact.
For Samson, the biggest lesson has been trusting himself. After winning the World Cup and facing both success and setbacks, has Sanju finally found the mindset that can keep him in Team India for the long run?
