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[Saba Sports News] After a stellar season with the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024, Sanju Samson earned a spot in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup. The keeper-batter scored 531 runs in 16 matches, finishing fifth in the Orange Cap list. There was significant debate over the keeper-batter role, with KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik also in contention. However, Samson’s performance in crucial matches secured his place in the national team.
Speaking about his experience, the Kerala-born cricketer described it as a dream come true. He mentioned his hard work in the gym and nets, preparing diligently for the mega tournament. Samson noted that he didn’t need extra motivation as things naturally fell into place. He also emphasized the inspiration he gets from teammates Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
“Right from the moment I landed here (in the USA), IPL has been completely off my mind. I am in a completely different stage, and I am telling myself, ‘You are somewhere where lots and lots of people dream about,’” Samson told BCCI.
“I thought to myself, ‘What do I need to do?’ I need to do gym sessions, recovery, and net sessions. Mentally, I didn’t have to motivate myself. Automatically things happened. When you meet Mr. Rohit Sharma and Mr. Virat Kohli, you get inspired and motivated. There is no looking back, only looking forward to how Sanju Samson can help the Indian team win games,” he added.
Notably, Samson made just one run in the warm-up game against Bangladesh ahead of the T20 World Cup. He opened the innings with Rohit but failed to impress. With Virat Kohli expected to play against Ireland on June 5, Samson might have to sit out as first-choice keeper Rishabh Pant looked in fantastic form against Bangladesh.