Samson's batting reminds me of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli: Kumble
What's the story
Anil Kumble, the former Indian cricketer and spin legend, has drawn a comparison between Sanju Samson's playing style and that of greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The remark came after India's triumph in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Kumble said that Samson's performances in the knockout stages were reminiscent of both Kohli's calculated approach and Rohit's aggressive batting.
Stellar run
Record-breaking performances in knockout stages
Samson made a sensational comeback in the Indian squad, delivering a string of record-breaking performances. After spending the first half on the bench, he made an impact with three consecutive fifties in the knockouts. He scored an unbeaten 97 in a virtual quarter-final against West Indies, followed by two back-to-back innings of 89 in the semi-final and final.
Balanced play
Kumble on Samson's balanced approach
After the final, Kumble praised Samson's balanced approach during the tournament, saying he played sensibly like Kohli during crucial phases and attacked the bowlers like Rohit in Powerplay. "When it required a little bit of Kohli, where you just plan and ensure that you don't lose wickets," Kumble told ESPNcricinfo. "And then whenever you need to accelerate in the powerplay, you want to take on the bowlers like Rohit."
Praise from du Plessis
Faf du Plessis praises Samson's gameplan
Faf du Plessis also praised Samson's gameplan during the tournament, saying he stuck to his mantra in every knock. "What you can see is a guy that is in form and really true to the way that he wants to play. It looks like I am watching the previous innings again. It's just the game plan on display," du Plessis said.
Run
Player of the Tournament
After his match-winning 89 against New Zealand in the final, Samson was adjudged the Player of the Tournament. He became the third Indian to win this award, joining Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. Samson now has the most runs for India in a T20 World Cup edition, breaking Kohli's record. While Kohli scored 319 runs in 2014, Samson concluded the 2026 edition with 321 runs at 80.25.