Rohit Sharma Explains Viral Pep Talk to Sanju Samson During T20 World Cup 2026

Former India captain Rohit Sharma has revealed the thinking behind his viral pep talk to Sanju Samson ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, explaining that he could sense the batter's frustration after being left out of the playing XI early in the tournament.

A video shared by the ICC showed Rohit consoling Samson before India's opening match against the United States, telling him not to be disheartened despite missing out on selection.

"Dukhi mat ho bhai. It is a long tournament, kabhi bhi mauka aa sakta hai," Rohit had told Samson while giving him a hug.

The Kerala batter did not feature in the opening match, but later emerged as one of India's standout performers in the tournament.

Rohit Sharma relied on his own experience

Speaking about the moment later, Rohit explained that he could relate to Samson's situation because he had experienced similar disappointment earlier in his own career.

"I can sometimes feel the pulse of a player. I have been myself in that place where, when you are in a tournament like this and your chances haven't come, it is important to stay focused and do the right things and not get frustrated," Rohit said in a video shared by the ICC.

Rohit himself had famously missed out on India's 2011 ODI World Cup squad despite being in contention, an experience that shaped his understanding of how players feel when they are on the fringes of a major tournament.

Sanju Samson initially missed out on the playing XI

Sanju Samson did not start the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign for India due to a poor run of form during the T20I series against New Zealand prior to the tournament.

He was later drafted into the playing XI during the group stage match against Namibia when Abhishek Sharma was ruled out with a stomach infection.

However, Samson again lost his place when Abhishek recovered, leaving his tournament prospects uncertain.

Opportunity arrived in the Super 8 stage

Samson finally returned to the team during the Super 8 stage when India's management reshuffled the batting order to counter off-spin challenges that had troubled the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan.

Once back in the side, Samson seized the opportunity with remarkable consistency.

He first delivered a match-winning unbeaten 97 against West Indies in a must-win Super 8 match before producing another crucial knock of 89 against England in the semi-final.

Rohit believed Sanju Samson moment would come

Rohit said he had reassured Samson that opportunities often appear unexpectedly in long tournaments.

"Because he was consistently playing for India and then was dropped just before the World Cup started, I just wanted to tell him that it's a long tournament and funny things have happened in the past," Rohit explained.

"I just wanted to reassure him that your chance would come. And it happened in a crucial game for India, and he played a blinder."

Samson has been among India's most effective batters during the T20 World Cup 2026.

He is currently India's third-highest run-scorer in the tournament behind Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav.

The wicketkeeper-batter has averaged 77.33 with an impressive strike rate of 201.73, while also collecting two Player of the Match awards.

His performances have also placed him among the contenders for the Player of the Tournament award.

Rohit's brief words of encouragement at the start of the tournament have since taken on greater significance, as Samson's performances helped power India's march to the T20 World Cup title.