New Delhi: Sanju Samson has become accustomed to the constant outside noise and criticism surrounding his career. However, he has admitted that the intense competition for a place in India’s top order is challenging. Despite this, he insists that players cannot afford to sit back in silence or sulk over selection decisions. Nor is that his approach. Samson said, “I am not a machine, and I am not a robot. I have feelings too.”
Samson managed just 10 runs in the first T20I against Afghanistan, but he bounced back in style in the second T20I on Tuesday. He scored 57 runs off just 22 balls, smashing four sixes and seven fours. His was the most significant contribution among India’s batters in their victory. India won the match with 31 balls and seven wickets to spare.
Nitish Kumar Reddy played the biggest role in restricting Afghanistan to 159/8. He dismissed key batters, including opener Ibrahim Zadran (37), Gulbadin Naib (10) and Rashid Khan (28), and was named Player of the Match.
Speaking to reporters after Tuesday’s match, Samson took a sarcastic dig at his critics, saying, “I try to turn off the Wi-Fi, but sometimes the Wi-Fi gets switched on, and comments from senior players come to my attention. However, all this is normal. What they say is their choice. It is also a matter of their mindset. Whether they speak positively or negatively depends on their approach. I have learned to deal with all these things.”
Criticism Does Affect You, At Least a Little
Samson also admitted that criticism does have an emotional impact.
“When criticism comes, the first thing you feel is hurt. You think, ‘I am not a machine. We are not robots who are unaffected by anything. Of course, it affects us a little!’ But then you remind yourself to keep moving forward with confidence, remain clear about your preparation and how you want to play.
“If I had focused only on what people were saying, I would not have been able to produce an innings like this. I keep reminding myself that my international career has been very good. My performance in the World Cup has also helped me a lot. Even under immense mental pressure, I have to focus on the kind of player I am and on the fact that I am playing for my team and for India.” On Vaibhav Suryavanshi: “He Is Just 15 Years Old…”
Samson has faced considerable competition from teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a place at the top of India’s T20 batting order, alongside Abhishek Sharma. After Samson’s poor performances in Ireland and at the start of the England tour, Vaibhav was given an opportunity in the Indian team in his place.
Vaibhav struggled on his international debut in England, but later won the Player of the Series award during India’s tour of Zimbabwe. He had also scored 776 runs in this year’s IPL, the highest aggregate in the tournament. Before that, Samson had emerged as India’s highest run-scorer in the T20 World Cup, with 321 runs.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Samson said, “Managing the Indian team is not an easy job. The World Cup was a blessing for me, but you all must have seen how a 15-year-old boy scored 700–800 runs in the IPL. So, his inclusion in the team was always going to happen at some point.
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“I failed to perform well in two or three matches, while he was in good form, and we desperately needed to win matches in that series against England. Tough decisions have to be taken when it comes to team selection.
“I have been a captain in the IPL and have taken tough decisions myself, so I understand all this. Before and during the series against England, Gautam bhai (head coach Gautam Gambhir) had several discussions with me. Decisions that people expect you to make are easy, but taking difficult decisions is not an easy job.”
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