Not Sanju Samson! AB de Villiers Names Deserving T20 World Cup POTM Winner

Sanju Samson [Source: AFP and X]

Former South Africa star AB de Villiers believes that Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah deserved the Player of the Tournament award in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Notably, India defeated the New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. As a result, India lifted the trophy in front of their home crowd. 

Moreover, this victory made India the first team to win a T20 World Cup on home soil. In addition, it also marked another milestone as India successfully secured back-to-back T20 World Cup titles.

Jasprit Bumrah’s impact with the ball

One of the key players behind India’s success was Jasprit Bumrah. The Indian pacer delivered excellent performances throughout the tournament. Overall, he took 14 wickets in eight innings and maintained an impressive economy rate of 6.21. Because of his consistent bowling, he became one of the most important players for the team.

Furthermore, Bumrah played a crucial role in the final against New Zealand. He produced a brilliant spell and picked up four wickets, which helped India gain control of the match at important moments. Therefore, many fans believed that his performance deserved special recognition.

Sanju Samson’s brilliant batting form

At the same time, Sanju Samson had an outstanding tournament with the bat. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter scored a total of 321 runs and delivered several match-winning innings for the team. Notably, he scored three consecutive half-centuries during the tournament, which showed his strong form and consistency.

Initially, Sanju Samson started the competition outside the Indian playing XI. However, he soon made the most of his opportunity when he returned to the team. He produced impressive Player of the Match performances against West Indies and England

Notably, after his stellar run in the tournament, Sanju Samson was eventually named Player of the Tournament.

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AB de Villiers shares his view

However, former South African star AB de Villiers believes that Bumrah also had a strong case for the award. Speaking on his YouTube channel while reviewing the tournament, the cricket legend explained why he felt Bumrah deserved greater recognition.

“It was a really close call between Sanju Samson and Bumrah. Bumrah was the top wicket-taker, and so he was pushing for the Player of the Tournament. But to me, there were pivotal moments and overs that he bowled that I felt like maybe he deserved more of a mention. It should have been closer,” said de Villiers.

He also reflected how difficult it is for fast bowlers to perform consistently in Indian conditions. “It's not easy to bowl as a fast bowler in India unless you are a Jasprit Bumrah. Even him, he was expensive in a couple of his overs during the tournament,” admitted AB de Villiers. 

“But when it mattered most in the semifinal and final, he bowled insane overs. I've never seen anything like it. He is hittable, but when it matters, there is a different gear this guy hits, and he goes to a different planet. An incredible performer and an asset to cricket in India,” AB de Villiers added.

Meanwhile, after India’s World Cup triumph, attention now shifts to the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Both Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson are expected to feature in the richest league.

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