Sanju Samson's Match-Winning Knock Earns High Praise from Longtime Coach
Sanju Samson's spectacular innings of 97 not out from just 50 balls against West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 1 was a pivotal moment for Indian cricket. This match-winning performance secured a five-wicket victory in India's final Super 8 clash, propelling the team into the T20 World Cup semifinals. While fans celebrated across the nation, one man watching from Dubai felt immense pride mixed with unease.
Coaching Amid Conflict: A Surreal Experience
Zubin Bharucha, a former Mumbai cricketer turned coach, cheered every boundary from his Dubai home as missiles were intercepted overhead amid escalating Middle East conflicts. "It's all a little strange. But hanging in there," Bharucha told Times of India before shifting focus to Samson, one of his favorite proteges. The veteran coach has known the 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter since he was 17 and has played a crucial role in his development into an international and IPL veteran.
"It's unreal that I've been coaching him for such a long time now! He was such a kid when he first came to me!" Bharucha exclaimed, reflecting on their enduring partnership that has spanned nearly half of Samson's life.
The Purity of Samson's Batting and Character
Bharucha pointed to Samson's remarkable resilience after being dropped from the playing XI due to poor form, highlighting his mental fortitude. The coach emphasized that what makes Samson truly special extends beyond technical skill to his character.
"Resilience has been his hallmark. But what is incredible about him is the person he is - which is what you see reflected in his batting. There is a sense of purity to it. Almost spiritual in nature," Bharucha explained. "He cares more about whether he has taken care of the people in his church than his own personal runs or achievements, that's just who he is as a person and you can see that in the purity of his strokeplay. I know it's a bit deep but that's how I see it."
Intensive Preparation Before the World Cup
Before the five-match T20I series against New Zealand last month, Samson invited Bharucha to Thiruvananthapuram for a focused four-day training session. "The focus was around not leaving any stone unturned in terms of what he might expect to be thrown his way," Bharucha revealed about their preparation strategy.
Despite this intensive work, initial results were disappointing as Samson managed just 46 runs in the New Zealand series at an average of 9.20, leading to his exclusion from the playing XI just before the T20 World Cup. However, his crucial performance against West Indies demonstrated his ability to bounce back when it mattered most.
Technical Excellence and Historical Comparisons
Analyzing Samson's match-winning six off Romario Shepherd in the final over, Bharucha detailed their technical approach: "What we plan for is the hands to be in front of the stumps to attack the stump line and outside off-stump balls. And then wait for them to attack the inside and then it becomes a free hit. This image is from the six he hit in the last over. As in, we want the bat to operate in front of the stump. For that to happen, you need to make a back and back movement. It's a similar movement to what legends like Graeme Pollock used to make back in the day."
Bharucha also recalled Samson's century against South Africa in Durban, praising his ability to excel under challenging conditions: "He has played some extraordinary shots and innings inside the IPL. Also his hundred on a fairly bouncy and seaming pitch against SA when the next best score was thirty odd, which I thought was also an excellent innings."
The Right-Handed Brian Lara
Bharucha made a striking comparison when describing Samson's batting style: "The reality is when he scores runs it's always going to be magical, because he has that little extra special gift of timing that very few have. It comes from his unending backlift which gives the impression of ease in stroke play, almost like a right-handed Lara in terms of the high backswing."
Turning philosophical, Bharucha added: "It's a threshold of learning that one crosses - and that can only happen in the middle. One can prepare as best possible and that's what we did, looking at every possible aspect that could be thrown at him. Varying conditions, different pitches, different types of bowlers and sidearms. But eventually the best learning happens out in the middle when you actually put yourself into these positions from where you grow exponentially within a game."
Looking Ahead with Cautious Optimism
Despite the recent success, Bharucha remains grounded in his assessment. "As I always tell the players, this is only the beginning, fingers crossed..." he concluded, emphasizing that Samson's journey continues with much more to achieve in international cricket.
The coach's unique perspective from Dubai, where he balanced cricket analysis with awareness of regional conflicts, adds a distinctive layer to understanding Samson's development. Their long-term partnership demonstrates how consistent coaching relationships can foster exceptional talent, with Bharucha's insights revealing both the technical and personal dimensions that make Samson a special cricketer.
