India’s former T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav revealed he had a difficult conversation with Sanju Samson about dropping him at the T20 World Cup 2026. Samson had managed only 46 runs in five T20Is against New Zealand before the T20I showpiece, and he was going through a rough patch.

Ishan Kishan, on the other hand, scored 215 runs in four games against the Kiwis, and thus India decided to back the in-form left-hander in place of Samson. 

SKY revealed he had a chat with Samson but the Kerala batter took it very sportingly. Samson told Yadav to do whatever is right for the team to win the World Cup.

Suryakumar Yadav said on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube Channel, “We were on the bus, and I told him that it was going to be difficult with how it was going. He told me just one thing: do whatever you feel is right to make this team win the World Cup. He said he is there whenever I need him, as he will prepare as if he were going to play. I gained a lot of confidence hearing that. Aise bhi log hote hain life mein (There are people like this too). “

SKY said he had previously promised Samson a long run in T20Is.

“That was my toughest call because I knew that he was a good person. We went to Sri Lanka in 2024, and he did not score a lot of runs there. He asked me what he should do. We were playing the Duleep Trophy in Anantapur. I told him I had confidence in him and that the coach had shown it as well. I assured him that he would play the next seven matches, and even if he scored seven ducks, he would still play the eighth.”

Samson turned out to be the hero of the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 321 runs in five matches at a strike rate of almost 200. The flamboyant batter scored fine knocks in the virtual quarterfinal, semifinal, and the final, helping India defend their T20 World Cup crown. Samson was awarded Player of the Tournament for his consistent performances.