A Fistful of Salt

seeking sense within all this noise

Samson, Kishan & Bumrah

Posted on April 20, 2026 by SV Rao

Why has Sanju Samson’s cricket triumph touched the hearts of millions and millions of Indian cricket lovers; from an understated cricketer to India’s T20 World Cup ‘26 HERO. The ‘Darling’ of Kerala Cricket fans, affectionately referred to as ‘Chetta’ (elder brother) by his throngs of supporters.

It’s because nothing has come easy for Samson. He has spent a lifetime preparing for this moment and during his decade long innings he has shown occasionally what he was capable of without being able to get the kind of success he deserved.

He made his IPL debut with Rajasthan Royals at the age of 18 and immediately caught the attention of experts and fans. He donned the Indian colours in 2015 and in his first 23 innings at the top order of the T20 team he scored only 1 fifty. IPL success did not guarantee international runs- so, the quiet and resilient wicket keeper-batter continued to toil in domestic tournaments in front of empty stadiums. Sanju Samson has often spoken about his acute desire to wear the Team India cap and win big trophies for his country; but to make the journey even tougher, along the way with ‘Road Closed’ signs stood the likes of Thala Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul.

There is an emotional video where he speaks about the inspirational leader and big brother Rohit Sharma’s empathy and support for him. That heartfelt 10-minute talk before the 2024 T20 WC final where the captain acknowledged his contributions and personally explained the tough selection calls on why he was left out- this talk meant a lot to him: ‘Tera bhi time aayega’ (your time will come).

So, to the T20 WC earlier this year. Samson was on the bench in the opening matches. Then he dominated the Super 8’s and beyond- 97 not out against the Windies, a match defining 89 in a close win against England and finishing it off with another 89 vs NZ in the finals. 321 runs at an average of 80.25 with a staggering strike rate of 199.37. The undisputed Player of the Tournament and the Toast of an entire nation.

What happened? Sanju Samson finally found himself in a dressing room where the philosophy and vibes matched his own. The high risk-high reward batting where contributions were measured by impact and not individual milestones. So was born our national hero-who strove always for high impact and this time around carried the blessings of consistency.

Sanju Samson, a devout Catholic, has praised Jesus and made signs of the cross on the cricket field and has drawn inspiration from the Bible verse Philippian 4:13- ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’

Another great source of strength has been his father Samson Vishwanath, a former Delhi Police Constable and a retired football player who represented Delhi in the Santosh Trophy. He played a pivotal role by leaving his police job and returning to Kerala when his son was rejected for the Delhi U-13 team. An intensely invested father- his focus was entirely in training Sanju and protecting him from setbacks in his early career. He insisted that his son closely watch icons like Tendulkar and Dravid on TV to develop a strong technique. Mentors matter whether it is on the sports field or off. Here the youngster was blessed- Dravid as his captain and coach at Rajasthan Royals, Rohit Sharma and his personal idol- MS Dhoni. Sanju Samson has spoken about his motivational call with Sachin Tendulkar during the T20 WC itself when he was feeling low and down.

Coming to Ishan Kishan, he played a key role in the T20 WC ‘26. 317 runs in 9 matches with an astounding SR (strike rate) of 193.29. His 77 against Pakistan and a 25-ball 54 in the finals were critical contributions. This was preceded by a stellar domestic season where he led Jharkhand to the T20 title in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament.

His has been a roller-coaster ride with controversy in the air. It will be fair to say that he is now astride the Redemption Arc. His talent was never in doubt as showcased by the 210 run rampage against Bangladesh in 2022 or the 103 off just 43 balls against New Zealand on the 31 Jan 2026- a week before the WC began.

His problems started in late 2023 when he pulled out of the on-going South Africa tour citing mental fatigue. He was later seen partying in Dubai and Mumbai. In early 2024 he was dropped from the BCCI Central Contract as he ignored the directives to play Ranji Trophy matches during his break from international cricket. Strong parental support brought him back on track. His father Pranav Pandey and Ishan himself have credited how reading the Bhagavad Gita helped him overcome his career turmoil and negative public scrutiny. His mother insisted that he carry a pocket edition of the scripture in his kit bag and he has often returned to the teachings in times of stress and anxiety.

An older generation is aware of how Indian cricket lost one of its finest talents in the early 90’s- Vinod Kambli to booze and partying with the wrong crowd. A recent example of things going wrong is Prithvi Shaw, hailed as a break-out star in 2018. In July 2019, his contract was suspended by the BCCI for doping violations. Then he totally lost it- a physical altercation with a social media influencer and her friends went viral on social media. Sad to say that as recently as December 2025 whilst representing Maharashtra he had an ugly fight with his former Mumbai teammates and was physically stopped from hitting one of them with a cricket bat. Prithvi Shaw is just 26 years old. Life has given him another chance. Delhi Capitals have recruited him for IPL 2026 for a price of Rs 75 lakhs. The moral of the story- the glamour, money and fame at top levels in Indian cricket and especially the IPL can easily lead youngsters astray.

The other fascinating takeaway from the success of Samson and Kishan is that Indian batters have taken T20 cricket to another level. Their strike rates almost touch 200. If Gill, KL Rahul or Ruturaj Gaekwad ( SR 138-143) aspire to get back into the format they will have to revamp their shots-gear box and move into a higher-level top gear.

Lastly enter Jasprit Bumrah. Picked up by the MI scouts and drafted for the team in IPL 2013. In the T20 WC ’26, he was the joint highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets and the Player of the Match in the finals with 4/15 vs NZ. He is a rare combination of pace (140+ kmph), lethal accuracy and unorthodox action which makes him difficult to read plus an exceptional death-overs bowler. Sadly, the unorthodox action has resulted in multiple injuries and surgeries with even a down-time of a year. Yet, James Anderson has called him ‘an absolute freak’ for his ability to nail lethal yorkers consistently. Damien Fleming is awed by ‘his curve ball slower delivery.’ Ricky Ponting calls him India’s greatest ever fast bowler-across formats- and that ‘his true value lies in making scoring runs very difficult for batters.’ Harsha Bhogle refers to him as ‘The Magician’ whilst accolades like ‘National Treasure’ and ‘Once in a Generation Player’ are floating all around. To add another dimension, Bumrah is also applauded for ‘his tactical genius in analysing pitch quality.’ Lest people forget, he was the Player of the Tournament in the 2024 T20 WC with15 wickets. In ICC ODI rankings he has held the top bowler slot for 730 days. In Test cricket he remains the No.1, with 234 wickets in 52 matches with a remarkable average of 19.79. Please check some fellow legendary bowlers – Marshall (20.94), McGrath (21.64), Akram (23.62), Murali (22.72) and Warne (25.41). Bumrah has played a seminal role in the Men in Blue’s big wins in SENA nations (South Africa-England-New Zealand- Australia).

Jasprit Bumrah lost his father at a very early age and has been brought up by his mother Daljit Kaur- a schoolteacher and Principal- in Ahmedabad. He attributes his success, focus, hard-work, discipline, passion and humility to his Ma’ji. He also embraces devout Sikh values and sacred teachings and has been quietly supporting many charitable causes -especially sponsoring education for under-privileged children.

Harsha Bhogle has revealed that before the IPL 2026 season, MI proposed to give the same pay cheques to Surya Yadav, Pandya, Rohit Sharma and Bumrah. Rohit bhai stepped forward for a pay-cut as Bumrah with his humungous contributions deserved more. Thus, for the first time has ‘Boom Boom’ earned the highest price-tag at his franchisee.

In Australia, Warne & McGrath are put on the same pedestal as Ponting. In July 2024, James Anderson was given a rousing, emotional farewell by a packed house at Lords. Murali and Wasim Akram are still revered by fans in their countries and far beyond. However, in India batters continue to dominate the headlines and public or fan consciousness. From the ‘Little Master’ Gavaskar to ‘The God of Cricket’ Tendulkar to ‘King Kohli’. RESPECT TO ALL. Taking his match-winning performances and his drive to take India to the top of the cricketing world, Bumrah over the last couple of years has finally become the brand face of an eco-friendly travel gear brand-Uppercase, Skecher shoes, UNIQLO India clothing and for Sun Feast Yippee noodles.

Times are changing. From the Dravid- Rohit Sharma duo to the Sky-Gambhir Management, team effort is being highlighted, and top-class bowlers are finding their place under the bright Indian sun.

The stories of our three-impactful cricketers of the 2026 T20 WC have parallels and differences. But at the core, what they have each scripted are positive stories of grit and determination, faith and support, and self-belief. They represent real, inspiring life lessons.

The Inspiring Story of Rashid Khan

Posted on July 16, 2023 by SV Rao

Rashid Khan celebrating a wicket in his signature ‘airplane’ celebration

Afghanistan and Cricket!! 1935. Abdul Aziz Durani catches the eye of the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar with his wicket-keeping skills. He offers him a job as a sub-inspector and the Afghan family moves to Jamnagar with their one-year-old son born near the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan. Salim Durani grows up to be the flamboyant Indian Test cricketer known for his big sixes. He was born before his time. He would have taken to T20 cricket and the IPL like a duck to water. Sadly the great all-rounder passed away this April and the tributes and obituaries all highlighted his Afghan lineage.

In the 2019 ICC World Cup, the Afghanistan cricket team went winless in all 9 matches. But such is the soft power of sports and cricket that there were no bomb blasts or attacks on the day of the matches in the troubled nation.

Today the 24-year-old Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s first global sporting superstar and cricketing icon. Born in eastern Afghanistan his family fled to Peshawar during some turbulent years of the Afghan war and even lived in the refugee camps. This is where the young boy picked up the game of cricket. After their return to their homeland, he continued to play the game but mostly with his 6 brothers. It was not till 2014 that Rashid who fancied himself as an opening batsman converted into a spin bowler. He taught himself through endless hours bowling on the concrete passageways, and then fields, and in the nets, in a country that had just become an affiliate member of the ICC when he was born. Today- the Afghan hero, IPL millionaire, and T20 smash hit- the Rashid Khan story is celebrated and savored by all cricket lovers.

Just 17, he made his debut for Afghanistan on the Zimbabwe cricket tour in October 2015. Just 2 years later he was picked up by SunRisers Hyderabad for $600,000 at the IPL auction. He then picked up franchise deals with the Guyana Amazon Warriors and helped the Adelaide Strikers to win their first BBL (Big Bash) title in 2018. He then also played in the PSL for the Quetta Gladiators and the Lahore Qalandars. Rashid Khan, without exaggeration, is the busiest cricketer in the world and a globe-trotter. He is invariably amongst the top wish-list of teams in big cricket leagues around the world. In 370 T20 matches, he has taken 500 wickets with an economy rate of 6.33, and sustaining these numbers across years, various leagues and oppositions, and playing conditions have been a remarkable achievement. Many cricket pundits rate him as the best T20 bowler of all time.

5 seasons with the Sunrisers in the IPL had led to a wicket haul of 93 wickets with an economy rate of 6.3. With the Gujarat Titans in 2022- 19 wickets and the IPL trophy. In 2023, 27 wickets and a loss in the finals to CSK. Listen to another great spinner Harbhajan Singh on Sports Today, “Rashid Khan is a great player from a different league. He is picking up wickets in heaps, he is scoring runs, he is a gifted fielder, and he led GT whenever Captain Hardik was not available. He has done everything and excelled. GT is exceptionally lucky to have a player like Rashid Khan in their ranks.”

What is it that makes him such a great bowler? L Sivaramakrishnan has this to say, “He is an unorthodox leg-spinner. His arm action is so quick that he has to release the ball at the right moment. He is very accurate. His grip doesn’t change much for leg spin and googly. Because his grip is more like an off-spinner with a big gap between the index finger and middle finger, it allows him to bowl a better googly.”

Rashid himself said in an interview that he usually bowls between 90-91 kmph. That extra 5-6 kmph above the normal spinners is what harries the batter. ‘’Opposition batsman may know what is coming- they are just not sure what to do” (Wisden Cricket Monthly). Ravi Bopana has acutely observed, “You can’t pick him from the hand. If you pick him from the pitch by the time you have worked out which way it’s going to turn it is too late for playing the big shot. You nudge him around. Finally, you try to take him down in the last over. That’s when he bags a couple of more wickets.”

Like most other world-class spinners more than half of his deliveries are on the good length and most of the remainder are just short of a good length. The batters don’t reach the pitch of the ball and the speed ensures that they don’t have time for the cut or the pull. His speed through the air is modeled on his idol Shahid Afridi while maintaining a stump-to-stump line. Rashid’s biggest weapon and mind-game ploy is the lethally accurate googly and he has multiple variations in his arsenal. In the T20 format, the most effective method of dismissals is to control the runs and force the batter to take more risks. Rashid Khan knows how to keep the pressure lid on.

This self-taught genius has picked up some bowling tips from watching his idols Afridi and Anil Kumble on TV and video. But take a peek into the sheer dedication of the man- “I place bottle tops at different spots on the pitch and I bowl until I hit each one. It doesn’t matter how long it takes-1hr, 2hrs, 3 hrs, or only 5-6 balls. I have to hit every one of the bottle tops.” Is it surprising that he has airbrushed many a middling total to a match-winning one for his team?

Plus his ingrained discipline. In the 2017 IPL, he was given to eating unhealthy foods like biryani, bread, and sweets. He quickly made the switch to barbecues or grilled food with lots of salad. This has given him the fitness and strength to take on his punishing cricketing schedule. It has given him that extra energy to consistently bowl at 90+kmph and even touch 99-100 kmph at times. He has sheepishly confessed that he cheats for one meal a month; also that he is unable to eat if he does not do his regular workout.

In 2017, ICC declared him as the T20 Associated Player of the Year. His 96 T20 wickets in 2018 inspired the headline-‘Prodigy to Superstar’ (Wisden Cricket Almanac). Then, Rashid Khan was lauded as the ICC T20 player of the decade. Just before the ICC T20 World Cup cricket legends like Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, and Mahela Jayawardene picked him amongst their top 5 players across teams. Yet, the young Afghan yearns to be the MVP (Most Valuable Player) in an IPL season.

There is more to him than just being a champion spinner. With the bat, he is capable of clearing the ropes in the slog overs. Over the years he has evolved into an extravagant, destructive lower-order batsman. In his early teens, he had dreamt of being an opening batsman like his idol Sachin Tendulkar. As a fielder also he has been agile and focused, giving his all for the team.

In the history of IPL in India the most popular foreign players have been AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. Rashid Khan has now been embraced by Indian cricket fans as one of their own. What adds to the aura of this young cricketer is his grounded approach; his close-knit family life with his 10 siblings and their families; the regular requests from his nephews and nieces that he shows them his ‘airplane celebration’ after taking a wicket; how his parents have taught him how to handle success and fame. As he himself puts it, “Money doesn’t give you good fame, good personality, good image. The only thing that gives you that is being humble. Being kind to everyone. Also if a fan asks for a photo and I ignore it, I don’t think I will be able to sleep. I never want to hurt someone’s feelings.” Small wonder that the spin maestro is so warmly welcomed by fans around the world.

Rashid Khan gives a lot of credit to his SunRisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman and Captain Kane Williamson for keeping him calm, positive, and focused. Referring to the latter he has said that he put his arms around my shoulder, “You just need to enjoy and keep smiling. That’s the only thing I want from you. Doesn’t matter whatever the result at the end but I want you to be smiling on the ground.”

His former national team captain Asghar Afghan has this to say, “The one special thing about Rashid is that whenever Afghanistan wins any match, the dinner is on him. Everyone gathers in his room and all expenses are borne by him. He really has a very big heart. Irrespective of whether he has performed or not if we win he takes the initiative for treating us to dinner. Even the 12^th man of our team prays that we win so that Rashid can treat us to dinner.”

The cricketing superstar is just 24 years old. His full name is Rashid Khan Arman. Arman is the male Persian name for ‘Wish’ and ‘Hope.’ In Turkish and Armenian it also means ‘God’s Man’.

Overhyped? Or Underachievers?

Posted on November 10, 2021 by SV Rao

The drubbings at the hands of Pakistan and New Zealand in the T20 World Cup tick both the boxes in the above title. Getting thrashed by 10 wickets and 8 wickets is akin to an innings defeat in a Test match. The Men in Blue are out of another ICC major championship —only this time not making it to the knock-out stage.

Is it such a rude shock? Not really. First, the hype. The IPL is the world’s most glamorous cricket carnival hosted by the richest cricket body, the BCCI. It has given opportunity and confidence to the younger players and enhanced the fitness levels of our cricketers. Some of India’s best have been spotted by IPL franchise scouts; Bumrah was discovered by the Mumbai Indians. The flip side is that it does not have the intensity found in major ICC tournaments or even in well-contested series especially with the SENA nations. The cricketers are feted as celebrities and the real contest and the competitive edge are missing. But here lies the catch. The fortunes of the IPL and Team India are interlinked. If the latter continues to underperform at major tournaments, the mass following for the IPL will dwindle.

Many well-paid commentators, including ex-cricketer experts, have all jumped onto the gravy train. So on international series and tours, they no longer objectively call out selection mistakes, wrong captaincy calls, poor reading of the game, bad sportsmanship, or cracks appearing in team spirit. So when Shastri says that this is the greatest Indian team ever, there is a chorus of approvals. While Kohli says his team can win from any situation, there is chest-thumping in the media. Overconfidence leads to bad results. Curiously, there is very little focus on Impact players from the other teams. Remember that Harsha Bhogle was put out in the cold for some time a few years back. His sin – he had something good to say about the competing international players also. Millions of die-hard fans have been fed this false narrative that our cricket team is head and shoulders above the other teams. Bad days like the 36 all out at Adelaide and the 78 at Headingley on the recent England tour and the defeats at the 2019 ODI WC and the World Test Championships in 2021 are all swept under the carpet.

Indian cricket has an abundance of talent and bench strength which is the envy of other cricketing nations. But this has to be mobilized and harnessed effectively by the captain, coach, selectors, and the BCCI. Captain Kohli’s in-one’s-face aggression has won him a huge legion of fans. But such relentless intensity has also undermined his batsmanship – he is showing symptoms of burn-out. He has been crass and hyper on the field and per reliable reports in the dressing room also. The dressing room environment gradually creeps onto the cricket field. It is bound to affect both team spirit and individual performances. Both are two sides of the same coin. Now let’s talk about Mr Shastri. As the captain’s hand-picked coach and Yes Man, he is also accountable for our futile run at the ICC tournaments. With a rich repository of cricket talent to tap into, this is not acceptable. The toxicity started with the ouster of Kumble as coach at Kohli’s behest and the silence from the BCCI and the cricket establishment. Virat Kohli has gradually become bigger than the game in India. Erratic selection, benching of in-form players, taking decisions solely by instinct, and throwing tantrums have all become acceptable over the years. Analytics inputs or sensible advice from the outside even by a reputed name have all been given the short end of the stick. Team bonding and consistency have suffered and even seasoned players have not played up to their potential.

The extended bio-bubble may have taken its toll on the players. It is also possible that some had tired legs or felt stale with the second leg of the IPL just before the WC T20. But this does not tell the entire story. Pakistan’s cricket team is driven by hunger, anger, and passion. They feel marginalized on the world cricket circuit and have grabbed this opportunity to drive home their point. They are playing out of their skins.

Front and Centre are 2 subjects which are almost taboo topics for our cricketing establishment or brotherhood. Thankfully, Madan Lal has been critical about the scheduling of the IPL second leg just before the T20 WC. Kapil Dev has gone even further- whether the Indian cricketers are giving more preference to this cash rich franchise league than to the singular honour of playing for the country. In the future the BCCI will have to give serious thought to player work-loads and series and tournament schedules with the prime focus being that the Men in Blue bring home some much needed silverware. Else they are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. The success of the Indian Premier League draws from the success of the national cricket team.

The other relates to Virat Kohli’s captaincy. I guess the jury will always be out on this one. Kohli has become an icon for millions of Indian fans not only because of superlative batting performances but because of his raw aggression, passion for fitness and wearing his heart on his sleeve. Even after his team’s very disappointing exit from the ongoing T20 WC his army of admirers on social media hail him as King Kohli. The cricketing experts and the media in general are tip-toeing around the subject with diplomatic grace. We are living in some strange bubble.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Rahul Dravid will be the next coach. A true cricketing legend and a mentor for many of the younger stars through U19, India ‘A’, and the National Cricket Academy. Immense match experience and cricketing acumen: focused, grounded, level-headed, and universally respected. When The Wall walked out to bat one could see the Indian tricolour fluttering in the breeze. But he has his work cut out. There are challenging times ahead and he has to be given a free hand. Virat Kohli continues as captain for the Tests and ODI’s. Will he listen, change, adapt or even reinvent himself? Regain his mojo as a masterclass batsman? Some of the impressionable youngsters have bought into the hype and the celebrity-dom. They have to face the reality check and rediscover their day-to-day balance. Dravid’s mission is not just to get the Indian cricket team to bond together and play to their fullest potential. He has to get each person on the Indian team to value and respect the India cap to the fullest. And even more. Play to win but with the sporting spirit currently demonstrated by Kane Williamson’s Kiwis.