Chef reveals Sanju Samson's cheat meal after match winning knock vs West Indies in T20 World Cup

Sanju Samson shut down his phone, social media accounts before the big match. While staying consistent with performances under pressure, Sanju had followed three months of strict diet meals.

Sanju Samson's redemption arc from starting on the bench to finishing as the Player of the Tournament became one of T20 World Cup's most compelling stories.

While staying consistent with performances under pressure, the wicketkeeper had followed three months of strict diet meals.

Well known chef Suresh Pillai took to Instagram, posting a picture of himself with the T20 Word Cup winning star and revealed his cheat meal that Samson craved for following his match winning 97 not out against West Indies in a must win match.

"The night Sanju Samson asked me for pazhankanji in Mumbai…" he wrote.

Pazhankanji is a fermented rice dish from Kerala, while Chammanthi is a side dish made by grinding fresh grated coconut with spices.

On March 2, at 7 pm, Pillai received a call from Samson's manager saying Samson desired a cheat meal after three months of strict diet. Sanju wanted to have a cheat meal.

"Chetaa… the match against West Indies was brilliant. He’s really happy. We’re in Mumbai now. Three months of strict diet meals… tonight he wants a cheat meal. Can you arrange pazhankanji, fish, kappa and chammanthi?” chef pillai wrote in the caption.

Pillai laughed of at the thought of arranging pazhankanji in Mumbai at that time. However, he arranged for kanji, kappa and fish.

"I immediately called my friend Rassak Ikka, owner of Society Hotel, Mumbai. Within minutes he packed kanji, kappa, fish curry, fried sardines, chammanthi and papad — and delivered it straight to St. Regis Mumbai," he wrote.

Further, Pillai expressed how most people don't see the sacrifices of a sportsperson.

"Phone switched off. Social media gone. Months of quiet, relentless preparation. That’s the real story behind every moment that fills a Malayali’s chest with pride," he wrote.

Pillai added that whenever Samson is on Kochi, he never misses having dinner at Restaurant Chef Pillai (RCP).

"I've lost count of how many times I’ve cooked for him. But every time… it feels like the first," Pillai wrote.

Samson struck 89 in India's total of 255-5, setting up ‌a 96-run win over New Zealand in the final and registering the highest individual ‌score in a T20 World Cup final, capping a campaign in which he also hit ‌a record 24 sixes in a single edition.