India cricketer says Sachin Tendulkar’s mentorship helped him find form in the T20 World Cup.
Dubai: After being named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Indian opener Sanju Samson praised Sachin Tendulkar for guiding him back to form.
Samson emerged as one of India’s standout performers in the tournament, scoring 321 runs, including three consecutive half-centuries, and playing a pivotal role in India’s successful title defence.
After receiving the award, the wicketkeeper-batter revealed that he had been in regular contact with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in the months leading up to the tournament. Samson said Tendulkar’s guidance was invaluable during a challenging phase of his career, helping him regain confidence and form.
“For the last couple of months, I’ve been in constant contact with Sachin sir,” Samson said while speaking to former West Indies captain Ian Bishop. “I reached out to him and had some very meaningful conversations. Getting guidance from someone like him — what more can you ask for?”
Samson also reflected on the challenges he faced following India’s series against New Zealand earlier this year.
“After the NZ series, I was broken. My dreams were completely shattered, and I began to think about what I could do next. But God had different plans,” he said.
His renewed confidence and preparation paid off during the T20 World Cup, particularly in the final against New Zealand, where he scored a blistering 89 off 46 balls, giving India a flying start toward their successful title defence.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar praised India’s exceptional performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, highlighting Abhishek Sharma’s crucial half-century and key contributions from Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan in helping post a formidable total against New Zealand.
India went on to secure a 96-run victory, claiming the T20 World Cup for a record third time, with Samson’s stellar performances playing a decisive role in the historic triumph.
