‘Trust & faith, not hope’: Gautam Gambhir on why the team backed Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson

AHMEDABAD: Gautam Gambhir said he picked India’s T20 side on “trust and faith” and backed Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma despite poor form. The opening duo played important roles in the final. Maybe struggling ‘mystery spinner’ Varun Chakravarthy, who did not come good, can also be added to the list.

Before the final, Abhishek had put together just 89 runs in seven matches at 12.71, including three ducks.



However, the left-hander rediscovered his destructive touch in the final, smashing an 18-ball half-century, the fastest of this World Cup.

Gambhir also showed faith in Samson, recalling him even though the ’keeper-batter had scored just 46 runs in a fivematch T20I series against the Kiwis a week before the World Cup. Samson hit three matchwinning half-centuries on the trot, first the 50-ball 97 not out against West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and then knocks of 89 off 42 balls in the semis against England and 89 off 46 balls in the final.

“I think you pick the team on trust and faith. You don’t pick on hope. When you pick someone on trust and faith, you don’t lose that trust and faith after four, five games,” he said.

Gambhir said Samson was given a break for a few matches. “It was a tactical change,” the coach said. “The captain and I never felt Sanju was out of form. We felt that after the NZ series, he needed a break.

“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 that Sanju has and the way he was batting in the nets, there was no doubt he’d deliver.” added Gambhir.