Indian opener Sanju Samson has been named in the eight-player shortlist for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament, announced on March 6. Despite missing the early matches of the tournament, Samson impressed with match-winning performances that included back-to-back Player of the Match awards.
Samson’s standout performances include a blistering 97 off 50 balls against the West Indies in a must-win Super 8 match and a powerful 89 off 42 balls in India’s semi-final victory over England, helping India secure their place in the final. So far, Samson has scored 232 runs across four matches, maintaining an impressive average of 77.33 and a strike rate of 201.73.
Other players in the Player of the Tournament shortlist include England’s Will Jacks, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert, Pakistan’s top run-scorer Sahibzada Farhan, and South Africa captain Aiden Markram. Proteas pacer Lungi Ngidi and USA fast bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk, who claimed 13 wickets in four games at an economy rate of 6.80, are also on the list.
India will face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday, March 8, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Samson’s recent performances have made him a key player to watch as India aims to defend their title and become the first team to win consecutive T20 World Cups.
Quick Facts:
- Samson runs: 232 in 4 matches
- Average: 77.33, Strike rate: 201.73
- Final match: India vs New Zealand, March 8, 2026, Narendra Modi Stadium
