T20 WC: Tendulkar lauds India's batting as Samson, Kishan script team records
Ahmedabad, March 8
India continued their assault on New Zealand bowlers in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final, with a fiery partnership between Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan keeping the hosts firmly in command at the Narendra Modi Stadium, and former India legend Sachin Tendulkar was all praises for the top-order batters after their monstrous knocks.
After India's record-breaking Power-play of 92/0, the momentum showed no signs of slowing. Samson and Kishan attacked anything short or wide, hitting a flurry of sixes and fours to push the total past 200 in just 15 overs.
Samson smashed a series of towering sixes off Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner, surpassing Finn Allen's mark to become the highest six-hitter in a single T20 World Cup edition with 21 sixes. Kishan, meanwhile, brought up his fifty off just 24 balls with aggressive stroke-play, including a towering six over mid-wicket.
Reflecting on the duo's masterclass, Sachin Tendulkar wrote on X, "Sanju is batting very smartly, knowing whom to attack and whom to defend against. Ishan Kishan has shown superb bat speed and played some unbelievable shots. 275 looks very much possible, it will be a fantastic score!"
India's relentless onslaught saw the scoreboard read 203/1 at the 15th over, with Samson batting on 89 (45 balls) and Kishan on 54 not out (24 balls), putting New Zealand under severe pressure. Every bowler, whether pace or spin, was taken to the cleaners as the crowd roared with every boundary.
However, the carnage came to a sudden halt in the first ball of the 16th over when Samson, attempting another big shot, was caught by substitute Cole McConchie off James Neesham for 89 (46), bringing an end to a sensational innings that had kept India on course for a potentially record-breaking total.
Ishan followed the opener just three balls later, with Neesham dismissing the No. 3 batter as well as Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav off the last two deliveries of the 16th over as India dropped to 204/4 inside just six deliveries.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Sanju Samson finally showing his true potential on the world stage! 21 sixes in a single World Cup edition is no joke. He's been so consistent. Ishan's aggression at the other end was the perfect foil. Hope they can finish strong in the next match!
The collapse from 203/1 to 204/4 is classic India. We always find a way to give the opposition hope. Need to work on finishing innings strongly. Batting was brilliant, but those three wickets in one over took the sheen off a bit.
Watching from the US, the energy at the Narendra Modi Stadium must be electric! Kishan's fifty off 24 balls was pure entertainment. As a cricket fan, this is the kind of fearless batting we love to see in T20s.
Sachin sir's analysis is spot on. Sanju played very smart cricket, picking his bowlers. But yaar, why do we lose wickets in clusters? That Neesham over brought back bad memories. Still, a fantastic platform set by the top order. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
As a Kiwi fan, that was brutal to watch. Our bowlers had no answers. Samson's innings was world class. The way he targeted Santner was clinical. Credit where it's due - India's batting lineup is terrifying when it clicks.
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