Sanju Samson on selection: ‘I am not a robot, but can’t sulk’
Indian cricketer Sanju Samson discusses the mental toll of public scrutiny and the intense competition for national team selection. He emphasizes the need for players to maintain a clear mindset and ignore external criticism to perform effectively.
Why it matters
It highlights the psychological challenges faced by elite athletes in high-pressure sports environments where public and media opinion is constant.
Sanju Samson has learnt to deal with the "outside noise" surrounding his career graph but he admits that the intense competition for India's top-order spots can be challenging even though players have little or no time to sulk over selection decisions.
Samson smashed a brutal 57 off 22 balls in India's series-clinching seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the second T20I on Tuesday (September 15, 2026). But he is well aware that the conversations about the trajectory of his career would not end.
"I try to turn off the Wi-Fi. But sometimes the Wi-Fi turns on and I see the comments of the senior players. It's very normal. I think it's their choice," Samson said in the post-match media interaction.
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