"Communication from Gambhir Boosted My Confidence": Sanju Samson

Indian wicketkeeper Sanju Samson revealed on how guidance from Gautam Gambhir in his early days into the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders, and subsequently in the India team has shaped his games. Now that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have decided to call off their respective careers post a T20 World Cup success, it seems like he is going to be India's T20 opener. His recent form, which includes three centuries in four T20Is against Bangladesh and South Africa, speaks of his strong desire to claim that spot.

"Yeah, it has been. I had a good relationship with Gautam Gambhir from a young age. My first IPL team was KKR. When I was 14, they picked me for their B team. At 17, I made it to the main KKR side, and that was the year KKR won the Championship under Gautam Gambhir," Samson shared in an interview with AB de Villiers on YouTube.

Samson Reflects on Gambhir's Support and Confidence Boost

Samson's relationship with Gambhir was more than about the IPL. He talked about how Gambhir's comments in the Indian dressing room gave him confidence boosts. "When he came to the Indian team, he told me, 'Sanju, I know what you have. You have something special. I'm going to back you no matter what.' He told me to walk in, go out there, and express myself in every innings. That kind of communication from the coach gave me clarity and confidence," Samson shared.
The Kerala-born cricketer also talked about the pressure of living up to Gambhir's faith, especially after a series of low scores."After a few dismissals, you feel the pressure because you have a guy who's backing you, and you're not performing. I thought, 'Come on Sanju, you need to show something and repay the faith the coach has in you,'" Samson shared.
His determination eventually paid off, and he has become the backbone of India's cricketing setup. He shared, "It's by God's grace that something special has happened. I want to continue scoring runs and winning games for my country," he said on his journey.