Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised him on Friday. Sanju Samsonhighlighting the batsman’s match-winning impact during India’s triumphant ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.Addressing the Keralam Karyakarta, Modi pointed to Samson’s performance under pressure as a lesson in focus and poise. “The cricket season is on today, and for the people of Kerala this is also something to learn. As we often see in Sanju Samson’s performance, we saw Sanju Samson at the World Cup,” Modi said.Emphasizing Samson’s rise in high-stakes moments, he added, “As the tournament got to the crunch, the knockout stages came, and his performance suddenly peaked. From start to finish, his focus, his confidence and his intensity grew. That’s the mark of a true player.”Modi further highlighted Samson’s ability to deliver when it matters most. He said that he showed his best performance when the team needed him the most. This is the hallmark of a true athlete.Samson, who was adjudged player of the tournament, scored 321 runs in five innings at an astonishing average of 80.25 and a strike rate of around 200. His tally included 27 fours and 24 sixes, making him the third highest run-scorer in the competition. He also surpassed Virat Kohli’s tally of 319 runs from the 2014 edition – the most by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup.After a modest start, Samson turned the tide with an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in a virtual knockout, followed by back-to-back 89s against England in the semi-finals and New Zealand in the final.India’s emphatic 96-run win over New Zealand sealed a historic title defence, making them the first team to win three T20 World Cups and the first to do so on home soil.
