A T20 World Cup of redemption: Can Sanju Samson complete his dream?

T20 World Cup Final: Sanju Samson's T20 World Cup has turned into a redemption story, his resurgence mirroring India's run to the final. After two match-winning knocks, one last chapter awaits in Ahmedabad, where he stands one innings away from helping India defend their title.

Sanju Samson’s laugh is infectious, and so is his batting.

For years, though, his career seemed to be built more on promise than performance, a talent spoken about more than it was realised. He never quite lived up to the early hype that surrounded him when he first appeared on the scene.

India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup Final: Preview | Updates

Yet watching Samson bat has always been a treat. There is a lazy elegance to his strokeplay, reminiscent of Rohit Sharma at his most fluent. His movements at the crease are simple and controlled. Sometimes it is just a small back movement or a gentle press of the front foot to shift his balance.

Then come the free-flowing arms, allowing the bat to swing smoothly through the line. That effortless bat flow once caught the eye of West Indies great Brian Lara and turned him into an admirer of Samson’s batting.

Now, years later, Samson seems to be enjoying the moment he and his fans had long waited for.