Samson Reflects on Struggles and Bond with Coach Gambhir

Sanju Samson recently opened up about his challenges during the T20I series against Bangladesh, revealing how his poor performances made it difficult for him to face India head coach Gautam Gambhir. Samson, who had been consistently backed by Gambhir, felt the pressure to perform but struggled in the first two matches, scoring just 29 and 10 runs.

In the third T20I, Samson made a remarkable comeback, smashing 111 runs off 47 balls, including 11 fours and eight sixes. Reflecting on his journey, Samson said, "The relationship between a coach and player is crucial. Gauti bhai believed in me, and I wanted to prove myself. After failing in the first two matches, I couldn’t make eye contact with him. But I kept telling myself, 'apna time aayega' (my time will come). Scoring that century in Hyderabad and seeing him clap was a moment of relief."

Samson also shared his close bond with teammate Suryakumar Yadav, who celebrated Samson’s maiden T20I century with a hug. "Surya and I go way back, having played junior cricket and for BPCL together. I’ve seen his hard work and struggle, and I deeply respect his achievements. We often discuss cricket, and his insights on consistency and dominance have been invaluable."

Samson, who captains Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, hopes his recent form marks the beginning of a more consistent career with the Indian national team. He has scored 594 runs in 33 T20Is at an average of 22.84.