The CEAT Cricket Awards night in Mumbai turned into a moment of nostalgia and gratitude as India’s wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson shared heartfelt words for Rohit Sharma.
Samson, who was honoured as the Men’s T20I Batter of the Year, dedicated India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph to Rohit, calling him the man who finally cracked India’s long search for a winning formula.
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What did Sanju Samson say about Rohit Sharma and India’s T20 World Cup win?
The Kerala batter praised Rohit’s calm leadership during India’s unbeaten run in the 2024 T20 World Cup, saying that his approach and belief united the team.
“It took 16 years to get the success formula, thanks to Rohit bhai,” said Samson, drawing applause from fellow cricketers present at the event.
Samson also said that he feels proud every time he wears the Indian jersey because it is something he has worked really hard for.
“When you wear the Indian jersey, you can’t say no to anything. I’ve worked really hard to earn it, and I take great pride in doing my job for the country,” Samson said.
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Talking about his 10-year journey, he shared that even though he has played only 40 matches, he is proud of how far he has come and everything he has fought through along the way.
“I recently completed 10 years in international cricket but have played only 40 games in that time. The numbers don’t tell the whole story, but I’m proud of the person I’ve become and the challenges I’ve overcome,” he added.
How did Rohit Sharma lead India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title?
India’s T20 World Cup win in Barbados earlier this year was more than just a trophy as it ended an 11-year drought in ICC tournaments.
Under Rohit’s captaincy, India stayed unbeaten throughout the tournament, finally defeating South Africa in a thrilling final by seven runs.
In that match, Virat Kohli anchored the innings with a classy 76, while Axar Patel’s 47 helped India post 176/7.
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South Africa fought back through Heinrich Klaasen’s fiery 52, but Hardik Pandya’s brilliant last over sealed the title for India.
Jasprit Bumrah, who finished with the lowest economy rate (4.17) in the tournament, was named Player of the Tournament while Arshdeep Singh topped the wicket charts with 17 scalps.
The victory meant India became the first team ever to win a T20 World Cup without losing a single match.
It was also a perfect farewell for Rohit, Virat, and Jadeja, all of whom retired from T20 internationals right after lifting the trophy.
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