India opener Sanju Samson credited years of dedication and mental recalibration for his pivotal 89-run innings against England, which secured India's place in the T20 World Cup final.
Samson's performance anchored India's 253-7, setting up a tense seven-run victory in the semi-final. Despite England's strong chase, India will now face New Zealand for back-to-back titles.
"I feel grateful, but we have one more step to go," Samson stated, emphasizing the team's focus on the final. He noted that momentum from a previous 97-run knock significantly influenced his approach.
Samson described a challenging period in 2025 and a subsequent T20 series, which prompted a reset in his technique and mindset. "I had to respect the game and come back to my basics," he explained.
England captain Harry Brook expressed pride in his team's campaign despite the narrow loss. "We've had an amazing campaign, and I said the other day that we're never out of games," Brook commented. He lauded Jacob Bethell's "phenomenal" 105-run innings under pressure.
Brook acknowledged missed fielding opportunities, including a dropped catch of Samson early on, as crucial moments in the game. The final is scheduled for Sunday.