Kolkata, March 2 (NationPress) Indian opener Sanju Samson revealed that he turned off his phone and social media to focus on himself and maintain his self-confidence during a difficult phase, culminating in his remarkable unbeaten 97 in the Men's T20 World Cup Super Eight match against the West Indies on Sunday.

Samson struck 12 fours and four sixes in an impressive 50-ball innings, leading India to a five-wicket win while chasing 196, thereby keeping the defending champions' hopes alive and setting up a semi-final match against England in Mumbai on Thursday.

“I focused on my shot selection. I didn’t want to change too much because I knew I had succeeded with my current approach, so I believed in myself, turned off my phone, and listened to my inner voice. I’m thrilled it happened in such a significant match,” Samson shared with Star Sports after the game.

He discussed how self-doubt had affected him when he was struggling to score runs leading up to this prestigious event. “It’s human nature to begin with negative thoughts like, 'Can I do it? I don’t think I can.' When those thoughts arise, I counter them with positivity.”

“During the New Zealand series, where I aimed to perform and secure a spot in the World Cup team, things didn’t go well. Fortunately, I had a 10-day break. I didn’t play any matches and reflected on, 'Sanju, what went wrong? What should I adjust?'”

“I engaged in some soul-searching. I analyzed my technique, how I prepare, and returned to that foundation. Many people offered advice, and while I recognized their valuable points, I reminded myself, 'Sanju, you've scored three international hundreds with the same technique.'”

Samson was reinstated to open the batting for India to break the left-handed top-order pattern and played a pivotal role in the challenging chase, especially after losing partners.

“It was a challenging chase. Considering our batting strength, chasing around 190 at Eden Gardens becomes easier with dew, but losing wickets consistently posed difficulties. My experience and role were crucial in this scenario.”

“I got off to a strong start, but as wickets fell, I felt a responsibility to finish the game. You aspire to do that, but it doesn’t always materialize, so I'm extremely grateful it did today.”

“When you bat first, the goal is to set a substantial score and hit numerous sixes, but in a pressure chase like this, you opt for different strategies and prioritize boundaries over risk. The ball was coming nicely, and they bowled with good pace, which helped me time my shots effectively.”

Concluding, he shared what the unbeaten 97 in Kolkata signifies for him, stating, “More than a hundred cricketers in India aspire for a day like this. I dared to dream. A young boy from Trivandrum, Kerala, dreamed of representing his country and achieving victory in such a crucial match. I dared to dream, and it happened.”