Gautam Gambhir fought everyone: Shoaib Akhtar's stunning reveal on Sanju Samson's comeback

Dubai, June 2026 — When India’s wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson walked out to face the West Indies in a virtual quarter-final at Eden Gardens, he carried more than his bat to the crease. According to former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, Samson also bore the weight of a selection battle that head coach Gautam Gambhir had to “fight with everyone” to win.

Speaking on PTV Sports’ Game On Hai, Akhtar disclosed that Samson’s recall after India’s opening loss to South Africa was anything but routine. “Basically, his selection has been done forcefully and after a lot of scrutiny. He didn’t feature in the tournament initially,” Akhtar said, adding that Gambhir’s steadfast advocacy was pivotal in the 31-year-old’s return.

The Rajasthan Royals stalwart wasted no time vindicating the coach’s faith. In a high-pressure chase against the West Indies he hammered an unbeaten 97, steering India to a crucial win and keeping their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 hopes alive. Samson’s purple patch continued in the semi-final at the same venue, where he bludgeoned 89 off 42 balls to help India dismantle England and secure a summit clash with New Zealand.

With 232 runs in four innings at an average of 77.33 and a strike rate of 201.73, Samson has emerged as the tournament’s most destructive batter. His 16 sixes have already eclipsed Rohit Sharma’s Indian record of 15 set in 2024, and his semi-final 89 equalled Virat Kohli’s 2016 knockout-high of 89 not out against the West Indies at Eden Gardens.

“Samson has been in the Indian cricket circuit since 2014,” Akhtar noted. “There was a lot of hype surrounding him, but he had to wait behind keepers like MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik. Even now, Gambhir has fought with everyone to get him into the team.”

As India prepares for the final, Samson’s resurgence stands as testament to a coach willing to challenge consensus and a player determined to seize a belated, but spectacular, opportunity.