Samson did not feature in a single game, as India opted for Rishabh Pant as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter throughout the tournament
Sanju Samson recently told Vimal Kumar in an interview that he was in the side initially to play for India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, however, Rohit Sharma changed the plan at the last moment.
He revealed that he was kind of a certainty to play the final against South Africa in Barbados, but ultimately, he was left out just before the toss when the team decided on sticking to the same XI. Samson has shared that he had an emotional conversation with captain Rohit about the sudden decision.
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“I had a chance to play the final. I was told to stay ready. I was ready. However, they decided before the toss that we would go with the same team. I was like, no worries. I was in that type of mood,” Samson told Vimal Kumar in an interview.
Samson shared that Rohit Sharma approached him during the warm-ups before the final to inform him about his exclusion from the playing XI. Later, Rohit returned to have a conversation, trying to explain the reasoning behind the decision.
“During the warm-up, Rohit took me to the side and started to explain to me why he is making that decision. He was like, You understood, na? You know his way, very casual? I told him, ‘Let us win the match and then talk.’ You focus on the match.”
“He came back one minute later and said, ‘I know you are cursing me in your mind.’ I think you are not happy. I feel like you have something on your mind. Then we had a discussion. I told him, ‘As a player, I want to play’, Sanju added.
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Samson did not feature in a single game, as India opted for Rishabh Pant as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter throughout the tournament. It marked Pant’s return to the national team after his car accident, and he batted at number three in all eight matches. Along with Samson, his Rajasthan Royals teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal and Yuzvendra Chahal also remained unused in the tournament.
Samson expressed that his only regret was missing the chance to play a World Cup final under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. He added that Rohit spending time with him before the toss, instead of focusing on the players in the XI, deeply touched his heart.
“Since childhood, I wanted to come here and do something. Then he was like, ‘My pattern is like this’ and all that. I said I totally respect that you came and explained me. I said, ‘I will have a regret; I could not play a World Cup final with a leader like you.’ This will be a regret in my heart that I missed a World Cup final with a leader like Rohit Sharma. That will stay in my life,” Sanju said.
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