'A dream come true, I manifested It': Sanju Samson reacts after winning Player of the Series Award

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The night at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will be etched in cricketing history forever. On Sunday, India secured a commanding 96-run victory over New Zealand, becoming the first nation to successfully defend the ICC Men's T20 World Cup title.

India scored a record-breaking total of 255/5, the highest score ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final, the Men in Blue completely outplayed the Kiwis, eventually bowling them out for just 159.

At the very heart of this relentless Indian assault was Sanju Samson. The dynamic wicketkeeper-batter blasted a spectacular 89 off just 46 balls, an innings laced with five boundaries and eight massive sixes. His unmatched consistency, which included three consecutive half-centuries in the knockout stages, rightfully earned him the highly coveted Player of the Tournament award.

For Samson, however, this triumph is far more than just runs and trophies; it is a story of extreme patience, self-belief, and ultimate redemption.

"It feels like a dream-a surreal feeling," Samson confessed to the roaring Ahmedabad crowd of over 100,000 fans. "I'm out of words, out of emotions; I'm just living it. Good evening."

The batter reflected on the long, agonizing road that led him to this monumental achievement. Despite being part of the squad during the previous victorious campaign, he spent the entirety of it watching from the dugout.

"Honestly, this journey started one to two years ago, when I was with the 2024 World Cup-winning team in the West Indies but couldn't play a single game," he revealed. "I kept visualizing, dreaming, and working hard. This is exactly what I wanted to achieve back then. I knew I had to put in the work, and by God's grace, things have turned around today."

The road was not without its steep drops. Samson opened up about the mental toll of recent setbacks that almost shattered his confidence before the tournament began.

"Right after the New Zealand series, I was broken-completely out of my mind," Samson admitted with striking honesty.

"I thought, 'My dreams are shattered. What else can I do?' But God had different plans. I came back strong for the crucial games and delivered for my country. I'm so proud and happy that I had the courage to dream big, and everything has turned out beautifully. I'm deeply grateful."

As India celebrates a record third T20 World Cup title, Sanju Samson's journey from sitting on the bench to lifting the Player of the Tournament trophy is a stunning testament to the power of perseverance.