Samson scored 24 off 15 balls against Zimbabwe at Chepauk.
This was Samson's second match in the showpiece tournament. His cameo, studded with two sixes and one four, took the pressure off fellow opener Abhishek Sharma and laid the foundation for India’s formidable 256/4 in 20 overs.
However, the wicketkeeper-batter failed to make his start count. He didn’t get the desired connection while attempting a pull shot off Blessing Muzarabani in the fourth over and was caught at deep mid-wicket by Ryan Burl.
After the game, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared his two cents on Samson’s impactful knock.
"I will see this from two sides. One, Sanju Samson the boy I know and what he is capable of. Second is Samson for the Indian team. This team, in this World Cup, addressed the opening partnership in this game. We got a better start. If Sanju can give me 15-ball 28, 16-ball 30, from here till the final, he would have done a job for the team. Maybe he can score big also, but he has done the job," Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin also hoped that Samson will convert his starts into something substantial as the tournament progresses.
"For Samson the person, that I like, I really do want him to stick in and make a huge score. There will not be a better opportunity than this. I want him to start well and capitalize as well. If you come here after years after hardwork, in this platform, catch the flight. Even if you fall, you can say you tried at least. I would want him to finish the World Cup with a hundred, or that match-winning performance, for his confidence. He deserves it," he added.
India thrashed Zimbabwe by 72 runs to keep their semifinal hopes alive. The defending champions will now have to beat the West Indies in the last Super 8 clash at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday (March 1) to reach the final-four stage.