By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Mar 01, 2026 18:28 PM • 27 views
On a night many called the "Sanju Samson Redemption," India battled hard against the West Indies at Eden Gardens. Their five-wicket win earned them a place in the ICC T20 World Cup semifinals.
India chased 195 and finished at 199 for 5 with four balls left. While the whole team contributed, Samson’s unbeaten 97 stood out for its calm and power.
Samson’s Standout Performance
The chase began with jitters. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan both fell for 10. India reeled at 41/2. The Eden roar faded as Super Eight pressure mounted.
Samson and Suryakumar Yadav (18) put together a steady 58-run partnership. Yadav played with flair, while Samson showed resilience. After Yadav was out, the match became tense again, but Samson stayed calm. He hit 10 boundaries and 4 sixes in his 50-ball 97 not out, showing maturity in the final overs. Even after Tilak Varma (27) was dismissed with 50 runs still needed from 30 balls, Samson found support in Hardik Pandya (17). In the last over, Samson hit the winning runs and dropped to his knees as his teammates celebrated.
West Indies Start Strong at Eden
Earlier, India’s decision to bowl first looked questionable. The West Indies openers came out swinging. Captain Shai Hope and Roston Chase (40) targeted Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, keeping the run rate above nine.
Varun Chakaravarthy broke through by bowling Hope for 32. After that, India’s main bowlers put pressure on the West Indies middle order. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Hetmyer (27), and Pandya got Rutherford out.
In the final overs, Rovman Powell (34 not out) and Jason Holder (37 not out) helped West Indies reach 195 for 4 with an unbeaten 76-run partnership. Their stand looked like it might win the match, but they did not expect Samson’s performance in the chase.
Looking Ahead to the Final
With this win, India will now travel to Mumbai to play England in the semifinal this Thursday.
Semifinal Matchups:
- Semifinal 1: South Africa vs New Zealand
- Semifinal 2: India vs England (Mumbai)
