India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has opened up about one of the most difficult phases of his international career — being edged out of India's XI for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 after a lean run in the series against New Zealand, and watching Ishan Kishan's explosive form seal the selection decision against him.

The Moment Samson Knew It Was Over

Speaking to JioStar, the 31-year-old Kerala batter described how he could visibly see the selectors' thinking shift as Kishan seized his opportunity. 'After that, Ishan came in, and his story was completely different. He wasn't even in the team. He won Jharkhand the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy almost single-handedly, then came into the Indian team and was batting on a different level altogether. I could clearly see that Ishan was moving above me in the pecking order,' Samson said.

The numbers told a stark story. Samson managed scores of 24, 6, 6, 10 and 0 across the five-match series against New Zealand, while Kishan walked in and struck 70-odd straightaway before following it up with a century later in the series. With the next assignment being the T20 World Cup itself, the selectors' choice was effectively made. 'Anyone would prefer an in-form batter. It was clear that the World Cup was done for me. Whatever had to happen had happened, and the only thing I could do was sit quietly and clap,' Samson stated.

The Cruel Timing of the Setback

What made the exclusion particularly hard to absorb was its timing. Samson had entered the New Zealand series on the back of a remarkable purple patch — three centuries in seven T20I matches — a run so exceptional that many observers considered his World Cup spot a formality. 'When I was given those seven matches, I don't think even I would have imagined that I would score three hundreds in those seven games,' he recalled.

Yet even at the peak of that form, Samson said he never allowed himself to feel settled. 'When I made those runs, people would say, 'Now you're sorted, you're settled. You've made your position in T20Is.' But in my mind, I couldn't believe it. Was it for real? Then the New Zealand series happened. This T20 format is such a funny game,' he said. The format's volatility — where a single series can undo months of consistent output — is, in Samson's words, 'the spice of being an Indian cricketer.'

The Mental Health Lesson

Samson also revealed that the setback forced him to reassess his approach to preparation. Despite putting in intense practice sessions with the sole aim of securing a World Cup place, his scores did not reflect the effort. 'I put my heart and soul into it, practised like mad, thinking my goal was right in front of me, of making sure that I was in the World Cup team. And after giving everything, 24 was my highest score in five matches,' he said.

It was during this difficult phase that Samson said he arrived at an important realisation — one, he acknowledged, that his wife had already understood. 'I realised I was overdoing it, and my wife was right, being happy and mentally in a good space is much more important than putting in hours and hours of practice. The New Zealand series taught me that,' he added.

What This Means for Samson's Future

Samson's candid reflection signals a cricketer who has processed the disappointment and drawn lasting lessons from it. His ability to acknowledge both the ruthlessness of Indian cricket's selection ecosystem and the importance of mental well-being over mechanical preparation suggests a maturity that could yet serve him well in future international cycles. How the selectors view him heading into the next T20I assignment remains to be seen.