India opener Sanju Samson completed a remarkable turnaround to be named the Player of the Tournament at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Samson played a major role in helping India to a third T20 World Cup title, with the right-hander amassing 321 runs from five innings with an average of 80.25 and an imposing strike rate of 199.37.
The 31-year-old scored half-centuries in India's last three matches at the T20 World Cup, chiming in with a pair of Player of the Match performances against the West Indies and England before yet another impressive innings in the title decider against New Zealand.
Samson revealed he sought advice from a host of more experienced players and even reached out to India great Sachin Tendulkar prior to Sunday's final.
"To be honest, there has been a lot of guidance and suggestions from senior players," Samson said after India's 96-run victory in Ahmedabad.
"A lot of former players have reached out to me and tried to help me out. From the last couple of months, I hope I can share it here. I've been in constant touch with Sachin (Tendulkar) sir. When I was sitting outside in Australia (during series at end of 2025) I wasn't playing a game, I thought about what mindset is required.
"I reached out to sir (Tendulkar) and had huge conversations with him. Even yesterday (Saturday) night, he called me up to check how I am feeling. Getting guidance from someone like him - that clarity, game preparation, awareness and game sense - I'm grateful for everyone who supported me."
Samson didn't play a match when part of India's squad at the 2024 T20 World Cup and entered the 2026 event following a glut of low scores in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
But with Abhishek Sharma struggling to find his best form, Samson found his touch to peak at the right time and help deliver India yet another t20 World Cup title.
"Right after the New Zealand series, I was broke. I was completely out of my mind. I felt like my dreams had shattered. I thought, 'OK what else can I do'?" Samson said.
"But God had different plans. I suddenly came back into the crucial games, and did what I could for the country. I'm very proud and happy that I was courageous enough to dream about it and things have turned up nicely for me, so I'm really grateful.
"To be very honest, this entire process started one-two years before, when I was with the 2024 World Cup winning team in West Indies. I couldn't get a game, but I kept on dreaming, kept on visualising, kept on working. This is exactly what I wanted to do then. I thought I needed to put in so much work that this is exactly what I wanted to achieve. By God's grace today things have turned around."
