T20 World Cup 2026: ‘Even if you fail, don’t give up’ - Ex-Indian captain hails Sanju Samson’s comeback

Former Indian cricket captain Kris Srikkanth recently lauded star batsman Sanju Samson following India's dominant victory in the T20 World Cup 2026 final, where they defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in Ahmedabad to claim their third title.

Srikkanth highlighted Samson's remarkable journey through the tournament as a profound life lesson. Initially not part of the playing XI, Samson seized his opportunity when it arose, culminating in him being named Player of the Tournament. His outstanding performance in the final saw him score 89 runs, contributing significantly to his tournament total of 321 runs from just five games at an impressive average of 80.25 and a striking rate of 199.37, including three half-centuries.

"There are two major takeaways from this World Cup," Srikkanth shared on his YouTube channel. "Firstly, Sanju Samson's story teaches us that even when faced with failures, one must never lose hope. When your moment arrives, it can elevate you to extraordinary levels. His mental fortitude and comeback were exceptional; he didn't alter his core game but made a crucial shift in his mental approach." Srikkanth further praised, "Sanju Samson, the Man of the Tournament, truly astonishing for someone who was initially out of the team, returning to deliver crucial performances in the most important matches."

Srikkanth also commended pace bowling maestro Jasprit Bumrah for his stellar contributions. Bumrah delivered a match-winning spell of 4/15 in the final against the Black Caps, concluding the tournament as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets from eight matches, boasting an average of 12.42 and an economy rate of 6.21.

"Bumrah is the ultimate bowling deity across all formats," Srikkanth asserted. "His ability to self-analyze, determining when to use slower deliveries and how to interpret the pitch, coupled with his calm planning, is simply fantastic."