Head coach Gautam Gambhir said the team management decided to give Sanju Samson a break after his difficult bilateral series against New Zealand, easing the pressure on the talented batter ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Samson repaid that faith in style on Sunday night, producing an unbeaten 97 to anchor India’s tense 196-run chase against the West Indies and secure a semifinal berth.

“Obviously, he had a tough series against New Zealand. Sometimes it’s important to give him a break because you want to take him out of that pressure situation,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.

After being shuffled down the order during the Asia Cup, a move that disrupted his rhythm, Samson was given a full series against New Zealand but endured a poor run of scores: 10, 6, 0, 24 and 6. Critics were quick to question his place in the side.

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He did not start in India’s tournament opener against the USA but returned for the Namibia match after Abhishek Sharma fell ill. Later developments, including Rinku Singh’s personal tragedy and the team’s desire to adjust a left-heavy top order, opened the door for Samson’s comeback.

Asked about managing a player’s mindset amid frequent in-and-out selections, Gambhir stressed constant communication.

“I have conversations with everyone. The most important thing is that the guys in this squad are world-class players — that’s why they represent the country. We always knew the talent Sanju has. Three T20 hundreds — not many players have that. We knew whenever we needed him in a World Cup game, he would deliver.”

Gambhir felt the foundations for Samson’s match-winning knock were laid during his brisk 24 off 15 balls against Zimbabwe in the previous game.

“Against Zimbabwe, he gave us the start we wanted in the first three overs. And today, he carried that momentum forward. This is what we expect from Sanju — to do it more consistently.”

One of the standout aspects of Samson’s innings was the tempo. Scoring at a strike rate close to 200 (194), he appeared composed rather than reckless.

“I actually thought he never really accelerated. They were just proper cricketing shots. I didn’t see him muscle the ball. That’s the kind of natural talent he has,” Gambhir observed.

Samson also relied heavily on ground strokes and sharp running between the wickets, elements not always associated with his T20 game.

“When you feel in control and confident, you start striking the ball cleanly, even in the nets,” Gambhir added.

Despite long-standing criticism about inconsistency, Gambhir believes this innings could mark a turning point.

“I’ve always said he’s a world-class player with immense talent. Hopefully, this is just the beginning, and we see many more innings like this. It was about backing him.

“Today, he showed his true potential. Hopefully, he can carry this forward. There are two more games to go,” Gambhir said, sounding optimistic.

(By PTI Inputs)