Sanju Samson saved his best for the last, smashing a remarkable century in the final T20I match against Bangladesh on Saturday (October 12) in Hyderabad. With India already having clinched the series, Samson silenced any doubts with an explosive 111 off 47 balls, helping India secure a resounding 133-run victory.

This knock came after two underwhelming performances in the earlier matches, where Samson struggled to get going. However, the leadership group of the Indian team, including captain Surya Kumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, had informed Samson well in advance that he would open the innings in the Bangladesh series.

While Samson’s first two matches in the series didn’t go as planned, his stellar performance in the third game more than made up for it. Reflecting on his journey after the match, Samson credited his success to the unwavering support of the team management. He praised Yadav and Gambhir for their belief in his ability to deliver under pressure, even after some poor performances in previous series.

" It can get very tricky when you are competing in the big stage for cricket. Playing for India, it’s not easy. When you have those failures, you can easily go back and say ‘okay, mein apne liye thoda run bana letha hoon (I will score some runs for myself)’.But I like to be myself. I know what I am as a person, as a character. It’s all about my people, it’s all about my friends, it’s all about my team," Samson said in the post-match press conference.

Samson also expressed his gratitude to the leadership team, noting how they reassured him after a disappointing run in the Sri Lanka series. " Three weeks before the series, I was fortunate to get a message from the leadership group. I think Surya, Gautam bhai and Abhishek Nayar told me three weeks ago that I would be opening. That gave me some kind of proper preparation. I went back to Rajasthan Royals academy, I was playing lots and lots of new-ball bowlers. That preparation definitely helps you. I was coming in 10 per cent more ready in this series than any other series. I think communication helps you be better prepared."

“I was a bit doubtful after a couple of ducks in Sri Lanka as to whether I would be getting a chance in the next series. But they backed me and they kept on saying ‘we will back you, no matter what’. I think we are committed as a batting group to dominate each and every opposition, bowling unit.”