T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Series Sanju Samson has revealed that he has been in constant touch with former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar over the last couple of months and that he had played a pivotal role in his resurgence. After warming the bench for a large part of the tournament at the start, the Kerala keeper-batter played match-winning knocks of 97, 89 and 89 in the final Super 8 game, semi-final and final respectively. Following India’s historic 3rd World Cup win, Samson revealed how the legendary Sachin had helped him through his tough times. Samson finished the T20 WC 2026 with 321 runs to his name from 5 innings, averaging 80.25 and boasting of a strike rate of 199.37.

How Sachin Tendulkar helped Sanju Samson in tough times

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Samson revealed that he has been in contact with Sachin for the last couple of months. The keeper-batter said that he had first received advice from the Master Blaster when he was a part of the India cricket team in the tour to Australia but didn’t get to play a game. Crediting Tendulkar for his resurgence, Samson revealed that the ‘God of Cricket’ had even called him on Saturday ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final to check on him.

“For the last couple of months, I have been in constant contact with Sachin sir. I reached out to him and had big big conversations with him. Getting a guidance from someone like him, what more can you ask for? I am very grateful for everyone who supported me,” Samson said.

Samson has had a lopsided year when it comes to T20Is over the last 12 months. After finishing as the first Indian cricketer to get three centuries in a calendar year in the shortest format, he lost his position as an opener to Shubman Gill in the Asia Cup. Thereafter, he was forced to bat down the order at a position he never has. Sanju then tasted very little success, and faced failures as well leading up to the T20 WC in the series against NZ. However, he proved his naysayers wrong with three life-time of an innings.

“Feels like a dream. Very happy and grateful. Out of words, out of emotions. [On his three fifties, thought process] To be trustworthy, it began one-two years earlier than. Once I was within the 2024 World Cup crew the place I didn’t play, I stored visualising, stored on working and this was precisely what I wished to do. After the NZ sequence I used to be damaged, my desires had been utterly shattered. And I used to be pondering what can I do. However God had totally different plans. And I used to be rewarded for being courageous sufficient to dream. A number of former gamers have reached out to me and tried to assist me out,” Samson added.