Sanju Samson Opens Up on the ‘10 Days’ That Changed Everything Before 97 vs WI in T20 World Cup

Eden Gardens has seen heartbreak, chaos and history. On Sunday night, it witnessed belief. India chased down 196 against West Indies - their highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history to seal a semi-final spot. At the centre of it all stood Sanju Samson, unbeaten on 97 off 50 balls, calm where others wavered, precise where panic could have crept in.

But this wasn't just about one innings. It was about the silence before it.

Sanju Samson on India vs West Indies heroics

The equation was steep. West Indies had posted 195. India lost wickets at intervals. The chase never quite allowed relaxation.

Samson admitted later that while Eden Gardens under dew can make 190 look gettable, the regular fall of wickets changed everything.

"It was a bit of a difficult chase," he said on Haier Match Centre Live. "Looking at our batting power, I felt that chasing 190-odd at Eden Gardens, when dew comes in, gets a bit easier, but losing wickets at regular intervals made it challenging. To be honest, that's where my experience and my role played a big part.

"I got a good start, but when the wickets kept falling, I felt I needed to finish the game and take it till the last moment. Normally you feel like doing it, but it doesn't happen all the time, so I am very grateful it happened in this game.

Normally known for his flair and range-hitting, Samson made a subtle shift. Instead of chasing sixes recklessly, he chose percentage cricket.

"When you are chasing a score like this in a pressure game, you take different options and play more boundaries rather than looking at risk-taking options. The ball was coming on nicely, they were bowling with good pace, so I kept timing it and it came well."

It was a thinking innings. Not forced. Not frantic. Just measured. When the winning runs were scored, Samson collapsed to his knees. It looked like release as much as relief.

Sanju Samson on game-changing 10 Days

Just weeks ago, Samson was battling doubt. A lean series against New Zealand had put his place under scrutiny. Questions swirled. Suggestions poured in. So did criticism.

He did something unusual in modern cricket. He unplugged.

"Our human nature is that we often start from a negative thought like, 'Can I do it? I don't think I can.' When I have that thought, I try to alter it with a very positive one. When I had a series like New Zealand where I wanted to perform and be part of the World Cup team, things did not work out well, but luckily I got a 10-day gap. I did not play any games and was not in the side."

After being out of the side, he had a 10-day gap. No matches. Just reflection.

"I kept thinking, 'Sanju, what else? Why didn't it work? What else should I do?' So I did some soul-searching. I worked on my base, how I set myself up, and came back to it."

There were technical tweaks - small ones. Adjusting his base. Revisiting his setup. But he resisted a complete overhaul.

"I have scored three international hundreds with the same setup. I did not want to change too much. Shot selection was something I kept working on. I kept believing in myself."

And then the line that summed up the shift:

"I switched off my phone, switched off social media and listened to myself."

In a tournament where scrutiny can drown instinct, Samson chose stillness.

Sanju Samson dared to dream at India vs West Indies

Statistically, the knock was monumental - India's biggest T20 World Cup chase. Joint third-highest chase in tournament history. The highest ever at Eden Gardens. Emotionally, it was something else.

"More than a hundred cricketers in India dream about a day like this," Samson said. "I dared to dream. A young guy from Trivandrum, Kerala, dreaming about playing for the country and winning a game in such a crucial match. I dared to dream and it happened."

For years, Samson's story has swung between promise and pause. Talent never in doubt. Timing often questioned. On Sunday, timing met temperament. He didn't just play an innings. He trusted it.

And sometimes, that's the hardest comeback of all.