Gambhir’s role in bringing Samson back from the dead; head coach was hell-bent on giving India’s ‘best keeper’ his dues

And to think that Samson almost did not play this game. Made to warm the bench at the last T20 World Cup, Samson did not start in India’s Playing XI in the tournament opener against the USA, and although he was given a chance against Namibia with Abhishek Sharma nursing a stomach bug, he was left out again once the opener recovered in time for the game against Pakistan. It was only after a sound thrashing at the hands of South Africa, which threatened to derail India’s campaign, that Samson was slotted back into the team, and he immediately made a mark.