Sanju Samson helped India defeat the West Indies' difficult 196-run target in the virtual T20 World Cup 2026 quarterfinal at Eden Gardens on March 1, playing what was likely the best innings of his life.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first. Roston Chase (40) and Shai Hope (32) added 68 runs for the first wicket. Shimron Hetmyer made a quick 27 before being dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah.
A late unbeaten 76-run stand between Rovman Powell (34*) and Jason Holder (37*) powered West Indies to 195/4, with Bumrah finishing as India’s best bowler with 2/36.
In response, India lost wickets at regular intervals, with Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan falling for 10 runs each and Suryakumar Yadav making 18 runs. But Sanju Samson stood tall at the other end and continued to keep the required scoring rate in check.
He stitched key partnerships with Suryakumar Yadav (18), Tilak Varma (27), and Hardik Pandya (17), on the way to 97* in 50 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes as India won the game in the last over with 5 wickets in hand.
Recounting Samson’s brilliant knock, Ravi Shastri praised the Keralam batter for his calmness and composure during the tough chase.
"It is Sanju's special Samson today, and that innings was special because of just his calmness, his composure, and just the sublime touch right through that innings. You had everything. You had timing, you had placement, you had explosive power, you had class, and what I liked best was that even with wickets falling around him, he never lost his cool. He was calm and composed in front of a big crowd,” Shastri stated on the ICC Instagram account.
Samson hit the reset button after reaching his fifty. As though they were the first two deliveries of this innings, he played them. He was aware that the work was not finished and that India would face dire consequences if he were to fall.
At last, Samson produced an innings that people will remember, and Shastri couldn’t be prouder.
“This was not a league game. This was a knockout contest. People's expectations of Samson have been huge right through his career. No one has questioned his talent, but they have been disappointed with his consistency. He brought everything to the fore today and made millions around the globe happy," he added.
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