Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who lost his place to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India's recently concluded T20I series against Zimbabwe, has expressed a desire to keep himself out of the rat race and play on his own terms. The immensely talented batter was India's hero at the T20I World Cup 2026, making an incredibly significant impact with three courageous half-centuries in a row to help the side retain the T20I title. However, a dip in his form during the T20I tour of Ireland and England saw him being overlooked for the T20I series against Zimbabwe, with teen prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earning the call. 

"I realised that there is a constant rat race in our country, and I decided before the 2026 T20 World Cup that I would not be part of it. I just want to enjoy the game. By God's grace, I have achieved a lot. I am 31 now, and I have a few years left. So, I have decided to play on my own terms. No one will tell me how to bat or what to do. Sanju will decide for Sanju. With all due respect, I will play, enjoy the game, be a good teammate, and support the group, but I will do it my way," Sanju Samson said on JioStar.

"After the 2024 World Cup, I didn't even expect to play in the 2026 World Cup. I wasn't in the 14 or 15-man squad at one point. So how can I plan for 2028? If I'm there, if the team needs me, and if I'm playing well, things will fall into place. If not, I am deeply grateful. No one can take this achievement away from me."

Samson also recalled an interaction with Virat Kohli about maintaining fitness and a healthy lifestyle in order to be an international player. 

"We all know how Virat bhai is. He is very clear and very straightforward with everyone. If you need to do something, he will tell you exactly what is required. The way he carries himself in the gym, there is a different fire in that guy and I really love that about him. We both were working out together in the gym during an Indian team camp and I asked him, 'Paaji, what should I do? Tell me something too!' and he told me that lifestyle plays a huge role. If you want to become an international cricketer, you must maintain a different kind of lifestyle. He shared what works for him on his journey and told me, 'This food will help your body recover, this won't. If you maintain this discipline for the next 10 years, you will have a great career ahead.' I started following it for a year, a year, and a half, but after that, I couldn't stay on track with that anymore!" Samson said.