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Sanju Samson's 97* Powers India to T20 World Cup Semis at Eden Gardens

Sanju Samson played a career-defining unbeaten knock of 97 runs to guide India to a five-wicket victory over West Indies in a crucial T20 World Cup match at Eden Gardens. Former cricketer Ravi Shastri hailed the innings for its exceptional composure and sublime touch under immense pressure. India successfully chased down a target of 196, overcoming an early setback through key partnerships. Head coach Gautam Gambhir also praised Samson's world-class talent, noting his innings was built on pure cricketing shots without any need to muscle the ball.

Key Points: Sanju Samson's 97* Seals India's T20 World Cup Semi-Final Spot

  • Samson's career-best 97* off 50 balls
  • India beats West Indies in virtual quarter-final
  • Ravi Shastri praises composure and calmness
  • Crucial partnerships with Suryakumar and Tilak
  • India chases 196 to reach semis
2 min read

"That innings was special": Ravi Shastri hails Sanju Samson's unbeaten knock

Ravi Shastri hails Sanju Samson's match-winning 97* against West Indies, a knock of composure that propelled India into the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

"It is Sanju's special Samson today, and that innings was special - Ravi Shastri"

Kolkata, March 2

Sanju Samson played the best knock of his international cricket career and that too came in a virtual quarter-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 against the two-time T20 World Cup winners, West Indies, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, which helped India enter the semis comfortably.

Samson's 97 not out off 50 balls came when India needed that sort of knock from the top order, and former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri hailed his composure, calmness and batting prowess after the match.

"It is Sanju's special Samson today, and that innings was special, because just his calmness, his composure, and just the sublime touch right through that innings," Shastri said on The ICC Review.

Samson was under a lot of pressure before coming into this match, having spent most of his time on the bench in the tournament and not having any big knock under his name in the couple of matches he played.

"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," said Shastri.

In the match, West Indies posted 195/4 after opting to bat, powered by contributions from Roston Chase (40), Hope (32), Shimron Hetmyer (27), and an unbeaten 76-run partnership between Jason Holder (37*) and Rovman Powell (34*). India's bowlers were led by Jasprit Bumrah, who returned figures of 2/36.

In reply, India overcame an early setback before a series of partnerships guided them home. Sanju Samson played a key role in the chase, stitching crucial stands with Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, as India sealed a five-wicket victory to progress further in the tournament.

"He is a world-class player. We all know how good a player Sanju is. I actually thought that he never accelerated the innings. It was just a very, very normal cricketing shots, and I never saw any muscling the ball as well, and that is the kind of talent he has," head coach Gautam Gambhir said after the victory.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
What a knock under pressure! Shastri is right, his calmness was remarkable. It wasn't just power-hitting, it was pure class and timing. So happy for him after sitting on the bench for so long.
V
Vikram M
Gambhir's point is spot on. He didn't look like he was forcing it at all. Just pure, elegant strokeplay. That's the sign of a top player. Now the challenge is to do this again in the semi-final. No more one-off wonders, please!
P
Priya S
As a fan from Kerala, I've been waiting for this moment for years. We always believed in you, Sanju! This innings will be remembered for a long time. On to the semis! 💙
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Rohit P
Great performance, no doubt. But let's not get carried away. One innings doesn't solve the middle-order questions. We need this consistency in the next two matches to actually lift the cup. The real test is now.
M
Michael C
That partnership with Surya was crucial. They complemented each other perfectly. West Indies put up a good total, but Samson's calculated assault made the chase look easy. Brilliant cricket.

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