Sanju Samson Admits Jasprit Bumrah Deserved to Win POTM Award More Than Him in World Cup Semi-final

Complementing Sanju Samson's display, Jasprit Bumrah has claimed 10 wickets in seven matches, maintaining an economy rate of 6.62.

Sanju Samson Admits Jasprit Bumrah Deserved to Win POTM Award More Than Him in World Cup Semi-final

Sanju Samson exclaimed that Jasprit Bumrah deserved to win the POTM award. (via Sports Tak)

In Short
  • Sanju Samson won the Player of the Match award in the World Cup semi-final but felt Jasprit Bumrah was more deserving.
  • Bumrah's exceptional bowling, including 4/33, was crucial in India's narrow victory over England.
  • Samson is the only Indian nominee for the T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament despite limited appearances.

For the second time in as many games, Sanju Samson won the Player of the Match award for guiding India to the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Surprisingly, Samson publicly stated that he felt Jasprit Bumrah was the more deserving POTM awardee.

It has been a redemptive run for Sanju Samson in the T20 World Cup, after initially being dropped from India’s playing XI due to poor form. Returning to the team, he played the ‘knock of his life’ in the final do-or-die Super Eight clash against the West Indies, while successfully chasing down a 196-run target in Kolkata. Continuing from where he left off, the 31-year-old scored 89 runs off just 42 balls in the semi-final against England, including eight fours and seven sixes. 

Samson’s innings helped the Men in Blue put up a first innings total of 253/7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While it seemed that the home side would run away with an easy win for a second straight T20 World Cup final appearance, they secured victory by the barest of margins. Jacob Bethell mounted a formidable challenge, scoring 105 runs off just 48 balls, but England ultimately fell short by seven runs.

Samson, meanwhile, cherished the opportunity of winning back-to-back POTM awards. However, the 31-year-old suggested that teammate Jasprit Bumrah was more deserving of the honor, particularly for his exceptional bowling in the death.

Samson hailed Bumrah as a ‘once-in-a-generation’ bowler and credited him for holding his nerve under pressure, and even admitted that without the pacer’s efforts, he would not have received the award.

All credit goes to Jasprit Bumrah. I think the world-class bowler, once-in-a-generation bowler… I think that’s what he delivered today. This [award] should go to him actually. So, if he didn’t bowl that way in the death overs, I would not be standing here.

Bumrah lived up to his status, finishing with 4/33 on a batting-friendly surface. The 32-year-old began his spell by dismissing England captain Harry Brook. While Bethell was hitting the other bowlers around, Jasprit Bumrah came back into the attack in the 16th over when England needed 69 runs to win. He conceded just eight runs, pushing the required run-rate up, before finishing his spell by giving away six runs in the pivotal 18th over. 

Through a series of pinpoint yorkers, Bumrah’s spell established firm control for India, leaving England with a daunting target of 39 runs needed from the last two overs. Hardik Pandya‘s economical 19th over, which cost only nine runs, secured India’s place in the final.

Neither Jasprit Bumrah nor Ishan Kishan; Sanju Samson only Indian nominee for T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament

The ICC, ahead of the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup, announced the eight nominees for the Player of the Tournament award. India, despite making it to the final, has only one player on the list, and it is not Jasprit Bumrah or Ishan Kishan. 

T20 World Cup POTS Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson has been picked among the nominees for the T20 World Cup POTS award. (via Cricbuzz)

Sanju Samson is the sole Indian player to feature on this list, despite the 31-year-old having made just four appearances throughout the tournament. The right-hander won successive POTM awards for scores of 97* and 89 in India’s last two matches. So far, he has scored 232 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup, at an average of 77.33 and a strike-rate of 201.73, and currently stands as the 11th highest run-getter. 

Samson is joined by Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan, who is the highest run-getter in the tournament, having scored 383 runs at an average of 76.60, including two centuries. England’s Will Jacks also features on the list, with him having won four POTM awards. South African captain Aiden Markram comes next with a 286-run tally, while teammate Lungi Ngidi has also been excellent by taking 12 wickets.

New Zealand opener Tim Seifert and all-rounder Rachin Ravindra feature in the list as well. USA’s Shadley van Schalkwyk is the only player from an associate nation, with the 37-year-old pacer having taken 13 wickets in just four matches. 

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