Although the T20 World Cup victory in India featured a heavy emphasis on a team-first mentality, there were times when even the most disciplined member of the squad could be tempted by their individual stats. Sanju Samson, an opener for the Indian team, revealed that when in the victorious tournament time frame, the thought of scoring a century did come into his mind and never crossed the mind of the coach, Gautam Gambhir, due to Gambhir’s “trophy above individual” directive as head coach.
At the recent India Today Conclave event, Samson expressed that he debated about his century during the World Cup, but eventually refocused his thoughts on the fact that the total team success was far more valuable than any individual records.
Gambhir’s Clear Dressing Room Rule
Gambhir has laid out one main goal for the Indian white-ball team since becoming captain in 2024: trophies take precedence over accomplishments. The change in the team’s philosophy began in July 2024, when the Indian team travelled to Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series.
For wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler, this philosophy has been ingrained into the players’ minds through numerous reminders during team meetings. The philosophy has now turned into a fundamental principle governing India’s limited-overs strategy.
Samson’s Honest Admission
Samson admitted that despite showing a strong, positive team culture, it did cross his mind at one point to score a century. “As a person, I think I thought about the ‘Would it be nice to score a century?’” he said, adding that this sort of mental moment is very natural for any batter. “But my focus was redirected to the team’s goal, and even though I knew I had ‘the chance’ to score the century, I kept batting aggressively based on what the scores were like during that point in time during the game,” he added. “I respect the fact that I follow through on a process and continue to play my shots. The only thought was what the team needed from me then.”
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Painfully Close to a Century
Samson nearly scored a hundred on several occasions during the tournament, most notably by scoring 97 not out against the West Indies in Kolkata, 89 in the semifinal game against England, and 89 in the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Despite not reaching a century each time, Samson contributed significantly to India’s overall success in the tournament.
Player of the Tournament
Samson’s performances throughout the competition earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
The Kerala-born batter finished with 321 runs, including three half-centuries, making him one of the standout players of the tournament.
Interestingly, his path to success wasn’t straightforward. Samson was not included in the playing XI for four of India’s first five matches, but he made the most of his opportunities once selected.
The Team-First Formula
India’s recent dominance in white-ball cricket is widely attributed to the shift in mindset under Gambhir’s leadership.
Rather than chasing personal milestones such as centuries or records, players are encouraged to focus on match situations and team strategy.
For Samson, resisting the temptation of a personal hundred became part of embracing that philosophy.
In the end, the approach paid off — not just for the team, but also for the player himself.
India lifted the trophy, and Samson walked away with the tournament’s top individual honour, proving that sometimes putting the team first brings the greatest rewards of all.
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