Mumbai: India’s triumphant run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup reached a historic climax as the team defeated New Zealand national cricket team in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium to clinch their record third title. Reflecting on the remarkable journey, India head coach Gautam Gambhir credited a crucial innings by Sanju Samson as the turning point of the campaign.
Speaking on JioStar’s programme Follow the Blues, Gambhir said Samson’s match-winning 97 against West Indies cricket team played a pivotal role in boosting the team’s confidence during a crucial stage of the tournament.
“Sanju’s 97 against West Indies was the turning point of this campaign. It was a virtual quarter-final and chasing 195 in a World Cup game is never easy. The calmness and ease with which he batted gave the entire group confidence that we were on the right track,” Gambhir said.
The former India opener also spoke about the pride of leading the national side as head coach. “I never imagined I would get the privilege of being the head coach of the Indian team. Representing India in any capacity is an honour. Making 140 crore Indians proud is the biggest feeling,” he added.
Gambhir highlighted the team’s fearless philosophy during the tournament, emphasising a high-risk, high-reward approach. According to him, the team focused on creating impact rather than chasing individual milestones. “T20 cricket is about impact. It’s about staying in the present and focusing on one delivery at a time,” he said.
He also praised the players for their willingness to adapt to changing roles during the tournament. Gambhir noted that captain Suryakumar Yadav and other players readily accepted changes in batting order depending on the team’s needs. Players like Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya adapted to multiple positions, reflecting the team-first approach.
Gambhir also singled out Jasprit Bumrah for his crucial contributions with the ball, noting that the fast bowler delivered in different phases of the game, including with the new ball, in the middle overs and during pressure situations.
India’s title-winning campaign, marked by aggressive intent and team unity, has been widely hailed as one of the most dominant performances in the tournament’s history.
