"Sanju Samson Discloses How Gautam Gambhir's Remark Led to a Career Turnaround: 'I'll Cut Ties if You Adopt 21 Ducks'"
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India's T20I star Sanju Samson has had an exciting journey in international cricket, marked by highs and lows. However, a pivotal moment in his career came after the 2024 T20 World Cup, when he found himself struggling during the Sri Lanka series.
In the midst of this slump, Gautam Gambhir, who had recently taken over as India's head coach, offered a bold assurance to Samson. "I'll drop you from the team only if you register 21 ducks," Gambhir said, a statement that was meant to boost Samson's confidence and provide him with the belief that he had the full backing of the coach and captain.
Samson, who had made his India debut at the age of 20, had been given seven consecutive opening opportunities in T20Is by captain Suryakumar Yadav. However, his first two games in Sri Lanka as an opener resulted in poor scores. Gambhir's words seemed to have a profound impact on Samson, who credits the statement as a turning point in his career.
Following the conversation, Samson's confidence soared, and he went on to deliver outstanding performances, including scoring three T20I centuries in a short span[1][2][3][4][5]. His international career, which had been marked by inconsistent runs, began to show a more promising trajectory.
In the 42 T20Is that Samson has played for India so far, he has scored 861 runs at an average of 25.32 and a strike rate of 152.38. His impressive performances have made him a valuable asset to the Indian T20I team.
The conversation between Samson and Gambhir took place in a candid chat with Ravichandran Ashwin on Ashwin's YouTube channel. The story serves as a testament to the power of motivation and trust, and how it can transform a player's career.
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Sports played a crucial role in Sanju Samson's career revival following the 2024 T20 World Cup. The prominent moment occurred when Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, promised to drop Samson from the team only if he registered 21 ducks.
Although Samson struggled initially in Sri Lanka, Gambhir's words bolstered his confidence, contributing to a string of exceptional T20I performances, including three centuries.
