Ahmedabad: Gautam Gambhir said his selection of the India T20 team was based on “trust and belief” and backed Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma despite their poor performances. The opening duo played a vital role in the final. Perhaps struggling ‘mystery spinner’ Varun Chakravarthy, who has been underperforming, can also be added to the list.
Before the final, Abhishek had scored just 89 runs in seven games at 12.71, including three runs.
However, the left-hander rediscovered his destructive touch in the final, scoring an 18-ball half-century, the fastest of the tournament.
Gambhir also showed confidence in Samson and recalled him despite the ‘wicket-keeper batsman’ scoring just 46 runs in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand a week before the World Cup. Samson was on pace to hit three match-winning half-centuries, first 97 off 50 balls against West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, then 89 off 42 balls in the semi-finals against England and 89 off 46 balls in the final.
“I think you pick a team based on trust and belief. You don’t pick hope. When you pick a guy based on trust and belief, you don’t lose that trust and belief after four or five games,” he said.
Gambhir said Samson got a few games off. “It’s a tactical change,” the coach said. “The captain and I never felt that Sanju was out of form. We felt he needed a break after the New Zealand series.
“Sometimes, it’s good to give someone a break. You want to get away from the pressure, clear your head and come back. The talent Sanju has and the way he bats, there’s no doubt he will achieve his target,” Gambhir added.
