Sanju Samson has sought the advice of India great Sachin Tendulkar throughout the T20 World Cup.

Samson was a star of the show as his 89 helped propel India to a dominant 96-run victory over New Zealand in Sunday's final.

That is the highest score in the final of a T20 World Cup.

Samson also plundered 89 against England in the semi-final. He became just the third batter, after Shahid Afridi (2009) and Virat Kohli (2014), to record 50+ scores in both the semis and final of the same edition of the competition.

He rounded out the tournament with 321 runs from five innings, having also scored an unbeaten 97 when India beat West Indies in the Super 8s.

And Samson revealed the legendary Tendulkar, the highest run scorer in international cricket across all formats combined, has been in regular contact.

"It feels like a dream. Very happy, very grateful. Out of words, out of emotions, it's a bit surreal," said the 31-year-old.

"I think this started two years ago. In 2024 I couldn't get a game. I started working, and this is exactly what I wanted to achieve. After the New Zealand series, I was broken, but I was courageous enough to dream about it.

"The last couple of months I have been in constant touch with Sachin Tendulkar. When I was outside the team in Australia, I reached out to him. Yesterday he called me up, getting guidance from him, what more can I ask for?

"This is very big for me. I need to enjoy it for now and then figure out what to do next."

89 - @IamSanjuSamson’s 89 is the highest score by a men's batter in an @T20WorldCup Final; having also scored 89 (vs England), he becomes just the 3rd batter after Shahid Afridi (2009) and Virat Kohli (2014) to record 50+ scores in both SF and Final of the same edition. Class. pic.twitter.com/Jug35F9VJg

— OptaJeev (@OptaJeev) March 8, 2026

Jasprit Bumrah also starred for India, who became the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cups, and the first host nation to win the event, too.

Bumrah took 4-15, recording the best figures by a paceman in a T20 World Cup final, and to make it more special, it was in front of a home crowd in Ahmedabad.

"It feels special because I played one [World Cup] final at my home venue [against Australia in 2023] and couldn't win that one," he said.

"I was really motivated today and used all my experience on a flat wicket. It went exactly as planned.

"Before this tournament, I was in that zone where I was trying too hard, but in this format I let the game come to me. I read the situation and believed in myself.

"I couldn't be happier and it's special to win man of the match in the World Cup final on my home ground."