India’s batsman Sanju Samson leaves the field after being dismissed by South Africa’s bowler Nqabayomzi Peter, for 107 runs during the T20 International cricket match between South Africa and India, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa. (AP)
Sanju Samson on Friday opened up about questioning whether he was good enough to play international cricket and how he overcame self-doubt with the help of India’s T20 captain, Suryakumar Yadav, following a dismal outing in Sri Lanka.
Samson became only the fourth batter to score consecutive hundreds in T20Is, playing a key role in India’s 61-run win over South Africa. He scored 107 runs off 50 balls, his innings studded with 10 massive sixes and seven boundaries.
“I honestly feel that I have faced more failures than successes in my career,” Sanju told reporters after his match-winning century in Durban.
“When you go through failure, a lot of doubts come into your mind. You start doubting yourself. People talk a lot, and social media definitely plays a role. But I think you also start questioning yourself.
India’s Sanju Samson celebrates after reaching his century. (Reuters)
“Are you not made for the international level? You’re doing well in the IPL, so why can’t you perform at the international level? I used to have a lot of such thoughts.
“But after so many years of experience, I know my own ability. If I spend some time at the crease, I have the shot-making ability, and I know I can contribute to the team and win matches. So, I kept telling myself it’s not like that.”
Support from Surya
Sanju credits captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir for consistently supporting him during his tough phase.
“Having a supportive captain like Surya and Gautam Bhai (coach) was very important. They supported me a lot through my failures. The way they communicate during tough times is crucial,” he said.
“When you’re going through a negative phase, a player can sometimes feel lost. During that time, I received a lot of phone calls from Gautam Bhai and Surya, telling me what to work on,” he added.
Hyderabad: India’s Sanju Samson celebrates his century with captain Suryakumar Yadav during the third and final T20 International cricket match between India and Bangladesh at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, in Hyderabad, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)
Earlier this year in July, after failing to score in two matches against Sri Lanka, Sanju received a call from Suryakumar Yadav, who directly pointed out technical flaws in his batting against spinners.
“Surya called me and said, ‘Brother, you’re facing this problem against spin. Gather all the spinners in Kerala and practice on rough wickets there.’
“So, when the Indian team captain is calling and telling you how to improve after a duck, you gain confidence because the captain believes in you and wants you to succeed. I’m very grateful for the trust that’s been shown in me, and I feel like I’ve been able to give back to the team management.
“I feel like this is just the beginning. I want to keep practicing, training hard, and be grateful every time I walk out to play for my country. My goal is to contribute and win games for India every time I step onto the field.”
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