Samson stands out as ultimate team man again with solid reply to India coach over century demand: 'You say milestones...'

Sanju Samson was not in the best of forms going into the T20 World Cup and yet whenever he batted in the tournament, not once did he take the safer option. He attacked opposition bowlers even if it meant that he got out quickly in his first two outings against Namibia and Zimbabwe. His selfless batting stood out even as he did not make big runs.

However, big things waited for him in the latter stages of the tournament. He slammed 97 not out in the virtual quarterfinal against West Indies and then followed it up with a couple of 89s in both the semifinal and final . When the batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told Samson that he should have scored one century, Samson’s reply once again underlined his team-first approach.

Samson’s reply wins heart

In a recent interview with Sportstar, batting coach Kotak revealed that he asked Samson that he should be making a century. To this Samson replied that how can he bat for the team if he starts thinking about centuries.

“Sanju kept batting in the semifinal and kept the team’s motto intact that the team’s interests are bigger than individual milestones,” said Kotak. “That was evident from the fact that despite being close to a hundred, he did not push for it.”

“I told Sanju: ‘you have to score one hundred’. He replied with a smile: ‘On one hand you say it’s not about personal milestones, and on another you say score a hundred. How are two things possible?’”

“Obviously, he was joking, but it spoke volumes about the mindset of the team. Players never thought about their personal runs and always put the team first. That made the difference,” said Kotak.

The India batting coach also revealed that Sanju was confident even when he was not getting chance to feature in the Playing XI .

“When Sanju was not playing, he was still confident. I spoke to him that every other day things change, there could be injuries or poor form, and that he had to be prepared,” Kotak said.

To which Samson replied: “Don’t worry Kotak bhai, I am always prepared. Whenever you tell me to go and perform, I will do it.”

Samson finished as India’s top-scorer and the third highest run-getter of the tournament with 321 runs despite playing just five matches. He also finished with 24 sixes, the most in the tournament. For his efforts with the bat in the knockout matches, Samson was adjudged the Player of the Tournament.