Sanju Samson on Virat Kohli’s Intense Health Recommendation, Life-style Self-discipline and Why He Couldn’t Stick With It

“We both were working out together in the gym during an Indian team camp and I asked him, ‘Paaji, what should I do? Tell me something too!,” he added.

“He told me that lifestyle plays a huge role. If you want to become an international cricketer, you must maintain a different kind of lifestyle. He shared what works for him on his journey and told me, ‘This food will help your body recover, this would not. If you maintain this discipline for the next 10 years, you will have a great career ahead.’ I started following it for a year, a year, and a half, but after that, I could not stay on track with that anymore,” he added.

Sanju also spoke on his mindset of not wanting to be a part of the “constant rat race” before the T20 World Cup, when he had lost his spot as the top-order/first-choice wicketkeeper-batter to Ishan Kishan ahead of the tournament.

The right-hander has decided to play on his own terms and would still feel grateful about his journey even if things do not work out for the 2028 T20 World Cup.

“I realised that there is a constant rat race in our country, and I decided before the 2026 T20 World Cup that I would not be part of it. I just want to enjoy the game. By God’s grace, I have achieved a lot. I am 31 now, and I have a few years left. So, I have decided to play on my own terms. No one will tell me how to bat or what to do. Sanju will decide for Sanju,” he said.

“With all due respect, I will play, enjoy the game, be a good teammate, and support the group, but I will do it my way,” Samson mentioned.

“After the 2024 World Cup, I didn’t even count on to play within the 2026 World Cup. I used to be not within the 14 or 15-man squad at one level. So how can I plan for 2028? If I’m there, if the crew wants me, and if I’m enjoying nicely, issues will fall into place. If not, I’m deeply grateful. No one can take this achievement (His T20WC Player of the Tournament award) away from me,” he added.

In 66 T20Is, Samson has scored 1,432 runs in 58 innings at a mean of 27.01 and a strike charge of 155.99, together with three centuries and 6 fifties, with a greatest rating of 111. In 16 ODIs and 14 innings, Samson has scored 510 runs at a mean of 56.66 and a strike charge of 99.60, with a century and three fifties, with a greatest rating of 108.