Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: A blistering 97* from Sanju Samson powered India to a thrilling five-wicket win over West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, sealing their place in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals. Under pressure and with his spot in the XI questioned after a lean run, Samson delivered when it mattered most in the Super Eight clash.Chasing under tricky conditions with dew setting in, India stayed on course thanks to a composed yet attacking effort from the wicketkeeper-batter. Samson’s unbeaten 97 off 50 balls is now the highest score in a successful run chase for India in T20 World Cups, surpassing Virat Kohli’s previous record. He struck the winning runs and, as he walked back, skipper Suryakumar Yadav removed his cap and bowed to him in a heartwarming gesture.
In a video released by the BCCI, Suryakumar was effusive in his praise for Samson, even prompting a hilarious response from the match-winner.“Rulayega kya pagle? (Do you want to see me tear up?),” Samson quipped as his captain continued to shower him with compliments.Suryakumar reiterated the belief he has long held about Samson and revealed what the batter had told the team when he rejoined the side.“I always say good things happen to good people and at the right time. No better time, no better stage for someone like him to step up and give the team what the team required. The moment he came into the side, I think the first thing that he said amongst the group when we sat together was, let’s do something which the team wants, not what you want,” said Suryakumar.The skipper chose not to dwell too much on Samson’s difficult phase — being in and out of the side and batting out of position — but acknowledged the mental strength behind the knock.“In life, we’ve seen so many things, so many ups and downs. I don’t want to take you back to what happened in the whole year, losing his position, batting out of position, and then coming back batting at the same position.”He emphasised that such performances define ICC tournaments and lauded the courage shown by Samson on the big stage.“It’s not easy to win the World Cup. The World Cups, the ICC tournaments, the games which you play in ICC tournaments are won by courageous people, and this was a courageous knock. He can already get carried away by a good start, but then the way he was batting, he held one side together, took the team through. And he deserves all the credit. I’m very happy for him, his wife, his family back home, and all the people who love him, support him. We’re just one more step closer. Hopefully, this may continue. I have a lot of things to say, but then, I’m very happy. He deserves everything,” said Suryakumar.India now move a step closer to the title, riding on a knock that could well go down as one of their finest in T20 World Cup history.India will now face England in the semifinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
