Sanju Samson believes the India national cricket team are entering a dominant era in world cricket following their recent victory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Speaking during the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Awards 2026 in Delhi, Samson said India’s depth of talent means the country could continue winning global tournaments more regularly in the future.

Reflecting on the triumph, Samson admitted the magnitude of the achievement still feels surreal. He said that even weeks after the tournament, he occasionally wakes up wondering whether the World Cup victory really happened. Despite the disbelief, he is confident that India’s pool of emerging and established players will help the team repeat such success in the years ahead.

Samson played a crucial role in India’s title-winning campaign and was named Player of the Tournament. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 321 runs in just five innings at an extraordinary strike rate close to 200. His performances included crucial scores of over 80 in three of the most important matches of the tournament: the Super Eight clash against the West Indies national cricket team, the semi-final against the England national cricket team, and the final against the New Zealand national cricket team.

Interestingly, Samson was not part of India’s initial playing XI early in the tournament. He explained that his mindset changed dramatically when he was called back into the side during the later stages. According to him, realizing that the team needed him to perform sparked a mental shift that allowed him to focus completely on contributing to India’s success.

Samson said he had always dreamed of helping India win a World Cup but acknowledged that cricket careers rarely follow a predictable path. For him, the tournament felt like a movie script where unexpected twists eventually led to a moment of fulfillment. Once he was given a clear role in the team, he focused entirely on what the team required rather than individual milestones.

The turning point for Samson came during the match against the Zimbabwe national cricket team, when he felt the entire team trusted him to deliver. From that moment, he believed the opportunity was meant for him, and he concentrated on performing to the best of his abilities.

Meanwhile, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj described the tournament victory as almost miraculous from a personal perspective. Siraj was not included in the original squad and only joined the team later as a replacement for the injured Harshit Rana.

Despite the late inclusion, Siraj contributed during the tournament and celebrated becoming part of two World Cup-winning squads in his career. He said the unexpected opportunity felt like a miracle and a reminder of how unpredictable cricket can be at the highest level.

With players like Samson delivering match-winning performances and several young talents emerging, India’s recent T20 World Cup victory could mark the beginning of a sustained period of success for the national team in global tournaments.