Overview:
Rohit, speaking from experience, said he has the ability to 'sense a player’s rhythm' and understand the challenges they face during high-pressure tournaments.
Rohit Sharma, one of India’s most accomplished white-ball players, has experienced his share of World Cup heartbreaks. Overlooked for the 2011 ODI World Cup and other tournaments, he understands the patience needed to rise. Noticing Sanju Samson’s struggle for a spot in the current T20 World Cup XI, Rohit spoke to the wicket-keeper batter.
Samson was part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 team but never took the field. In 2026, after initially being left out, he feared a repeat of the same scenario. Rohit, however, told him to stay positive, highlighting that openings can come at any stage of the tournament.
“Dukhi mat ho bhai. It is a long tournament, kabhi bhi mauka aa sakta hai. (Don’t lose heart, brother. It’s a long tournament, and your chance can come at any moment),” Rohit said in a video shared by the ICC on Instagram.
Rohit, speaking from experience, said he has the ability to ‘sense a player’s rhythm’ and understand the challenges they face during high-pressure tournaments.
“I can often sense what a player is feeling. I’ve been in this situation myself when you’re in a big tournament but you don’t get a chance to play. It’s important to stay focused, keep doing the right things, and not get frustrated, and that’s exactly what I shared with him,” Rohit added.
“Since he was playing consistently for India and then was left out just before the World Cup, I wanted to remind him that it’s a long tournament and unexpected things can happen. I reassured him that his opportunity would come, and it did in a crucial game for India, where he delivered a brilliant performance,” Rohit concluded.