You spent 10 minutes with a player who is not playing: Samson recalls Rohit's gesture after T20 WC final snub

Sanju Samson smashed his maiden T20I ton during the home Bangladesh series, early this month. The right-hander was part of the Rohit Sharma-led India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 edition, co-hosted by West Indies and the USA, eventually won by the Men in Blue. While he warmed the bench during the group stage, Super Sixes and semifinal, he was asked to 'be ready' for the final, versus South Africa in Barbados on June 29. However, India went ahead with an unchangedXI. Samson recently recalled his snub and how captain Rohit spent a lot of time with him, prior to the game, explaining his omission and, thereby, winning his heart.

Samson told journalist Vimal Kumar in an interview, "I had a chance to play the final. I was told to stay ready. I was ready. However, they decided before the toss that we would go with the same team. I was like, no worries. I was in that type of mood."

Hementioned, "During the warm-up, Rohit took me to the side and started to explain to me why he is making that decision. He was like, You understood, na? You know his way, very casual? I told him, 'Let us win the match and then talk.' You focus on the match."

'I will have a regret to not play a World Cup final with a leader like you'

Samson then stated, "He (Rohit) came back one minute later and said, 'I know you are cursing me in your mind.' I think you are not happy. I feel like you have something on your mind. Then we had a discussion."

The swashbuckling batterfurther opined, "I told him, 'As a player, I want to play'. Since childhood, I wanted to come here and do something. Then he was like, 'My pattern is like this' and all that. I said I totally respect that you came and explained me. I said, 'I will have a regret; I could not play a World Cup final with a leader like you.' This will be a regret in my heart that I missed a World Cup final with a leader like Rohit Sharma. That will stay in my life."

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper revealed how Hitman won his heart with his gesture just ahead of the big-ticket finale. "After this, I thought, such a big thing like a World Cup final. Before the final, you have changed your decision. You spent 10 minutes with the player that is not playing just before the toss. He gave me 10 minutes before the toss. After that, I got to know this person has some other qualities."

"If I were in their place, I would be thinking about the players who are playing or my batting. I will explain to Sanju later; that is what normally you think. At that point, he thought 'I have to explain to Sanju, why I took that decision.' At that point, he won a place in my heart that will stay for a lifetime," Samson added.

Instead of Samson, Indian team management trusted Rishabh Pant to do the job behind the stumps despite his ordinary returns with the bat throughout the mega event. Moreover, even Shivam Dube didn't have a fruitful run, hence, many contemplated Samson would get a look-in before the summit clash. However, India didn't tweak their winning combination and it resulted in both Pant and Dube playing key roles in India's win. While Pant smartly halted the game for sometime before the end overs, when the momentum was firmly with South Africa, whereas Dube smashed a vital 16-ball 27 as India posted 178-7 (mainly riding on Virat Kohli's 76 and Axar Patel's 47) after opting to bat first at the Kensington Oval.

In reply, SA were in prime position and only needed 30 off the last five overs before Jasprit Bumrah (2 for 18), Arshdeep Singh (2 for 20) and Hardik Pandya (3 for 20)'s death-overs bowling masterclass took India to a famous seven-run win. Post the historic win, Rohit and Kohli retired from T20Is.