Sanju Samson reveals teammates were once ‘jealous’ of Abhishek Sharma’s popularity

India’s star opener Sanju Samson spoke highly of his opening partner Abhishek Sharma, describing their batting partnership as smooth, natural, and perfectly balanced. According to Samson, both batters share an aggressive mindset and complement each other well at the crease.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Samson explained that their combination works because both players are capable of taking charge whenever needed.

"We are not ice and fire, we are fire and fire. Sometimes he fires, sometimes I do. We have that kind of combination going. We have done this since 2024; we have a Kerala-Punjabi friendship in the middle. Everything comes pretty naturally to us, so we do not complicate it. He asks me, 'How is the ball coming?' I tell him that the ball is coming normally, and hit it for a six. It is really simple with him. Abhishek is very brave and collected. I love his character. I really love the partnership with him on and off the field," Sanju Samson said at the India Today Conclave.


‘Abhishek Is the Superstar of the Team Now’
Samson also shared a lighthearted moment, revealing that Abhishek’s early rise in the team once sparked a bit of friendly jealousy among teammates because of the loud cheers he received from fans.

"Earlier, the boys used to get jealous because of the cheers for Abhishek. It was Abhishek, Abhishek everywhere. We were like, do people only see him or what? But yes, he is the superstar of the team now. Get married soon, bhai," he added.

Explosive Opening Stand in T20 World Cup Final
The duo delivered a remarkable performance against New Zealand national cricket team in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Samson and Abhishek dominated the opposition bowlers, putting together a blistering 98-run opening partnership that set the tone for India’s innings during the powerplay.

Their aggressive start helped India national cricket team post a massive 255 runs in the final.

India Creates History with Third T20 World Cup Title
India went on to secure a 96-run victory over New Zealand, clinching their third T20 World Cup title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The triumph was historic as India became the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup and win the title on home soil.

Samson’s Remarkable Comeback in the Tournament
Samson also enjoyed an outstanding tournament, bouncing back from earlier inconsistency and limited opportunities to emerge as India’s leading run-scorer in the competition.

From the virtual quarterfinal against the West Indies cricket team to the final against New Zealand, he delivered several match-winning knocks, including multiple half-centuries.

The wicketkeeper-batter scored 321 runs in five innings, averaging 80.25 with a remarkable strike rate of 199.37. His tally included 27 fours and 24 sixes, making him the third-highest run-scorer of the tournament.

[With TOI inputs]