Sanju Samson shares Gautam Gambhir's 21 Ducks backing that boosted his confidence
Samson said those words hit differently. 'When a coach and captain speak like that, your confidence automatically lifts. You know they really trust you and want you to succeed,' he said.Since making his T20I debut, Samson has appeared in 42 matches, scoring 861 runs at a strike rate of over 152, with three hundreds and two fifties. His first T20I ton came against Bangladesh in Hyderabad, followed by two more against South Africa.Gambhir wasn't the only one to back him. Samson revealed that Suryakumar Yadav, during the Duleep Trophy, promised him a stretch of seven matches as opener. That run came during series against South Africa and England, where Samson repaid the faith with two centuries in quick succession.In the IPL, however, Samson's future is less certain. Following Rajasthan Royals' ninth-place finish in 2025, reports suggest he's asked to be traded or released, with tensions reportedly brewing between him and the franchise's management.With the Asia Cup 2025 on the horizon, Samson will be hoping Gambhir's '21 ducks' assurance continues to shield him from the axe — and that his purple patch with the bat remains intact.- Ends
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