Kumble: Sanju Samson Mix of Kohli and Rohit

India’s T20 World Cup campaign received a major boost from the performances of Sanju Samson, whose impactful batting in the knockout stages drew praise from former India captain and spin legend Anil Kumble.

Samson, who did not feature in the initial matches of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, was brought into the playing XI midway through the tournament as an opening batter. The decision proved significant as the Kerala cricketer delivered a series of crucial performances during the decisive stages of the competition.

His first major contribution came in the Super 8 clash against the West Indies in Kolkata. In a high-pressure match that carried knockout implications, Samson scored an unbeaten 97, guiding India to a strong position and setting the tone for the remainder of the tournament.

The right-handed batter continued his impressive run in the knockout matches. He scored 89 runs in the semi-final and followed it up with another 89 in the final, playing a key role in India’s journey to the T20 World Cup title.

According to match statistics from the tournament, Samson finished with 321 runs in just five innings. This tally reportedly became the highest by an Indian batter in a single edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

His performances also placed him alongside Virat Kohli in another notable record. Samson became one of the few Indian players to score half-centuries in both the semi-final and final of the same T20 World Cup edition.

Former India captain Anil Kumble praised Samson’s approach during the tournament while speaking on ESPNcricinfo. Kumble said the batter’s style reflected qualities seen in two of India’s most successful modern players — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

According to Kumble, Samson displayed the ability to control the innings when the situation required stability, similar to Kohli’s calculated approach. At the same time, he showed attacking intent when the team needed quick runs, which Kumble compared to Rohit Sharma’s aggressive batting style.

Kumble noted that Samson managed to balance patience with attacking cricket throughout the tournament. He explained that the batter adapted his strategy based on match situations while maintaining his natural stroke play.

Even while anchoring the innings, Samson continued to play attacking shots. Tournament statistics showed that India became the first team to hit 100 sixes in a single T20 World Cup edition. Samson contributed significantly to that tally, hitting 24 sixes during the tournament — the highest by any player in the competition.

His performances in the latter stages of the tournament were widely seen as a turning point for India’s campaign. Coming into the team midway through the competition and delivering consistent results under pressure highlighted his ability to perform in high-stakes matches.

India eventually secured the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, with several players contributing throughout the campaign. However, Samson’s match-winning knocks in the final stages played an important role in the team’s successful run.

Cricket experts and former players have continued to discuss the impact of Samson’s performances, with many noting how his batting added depth and stability to India’s lineup during the crucial knockout matches.

With the tournament now concluded, Samson’s performances are likely to strengthen his case as a key player in India’s T20 setup moving forward.