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In a high-octane clash that lived up to every bit of its billing, India punched their ticket to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a thrilling five-wicket victory over the West Indies. The 52nd match of the tournament, held under the iconic lights of Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on March 01, 2026, saw a packed house of 50,597 fans witness a career-defining performance from Sanju Samson. In a chase that demanded nerves of steel, Samson’s unbeaten 97 steered the Men in Blue past a formidable Caribbean total, ending the Super Eights stage on a historic high.
Sanju Samson shares thoughts on his match-winning performance that sealed India’s semifinal berth
Following his match-winning heroics, an emotional Samson was named Player of the Match. For a player whose international career has often been scrutinized for consistency, this knock felt like a final arrival. Samson anchored the chase with a blend of aggressive stroke-play and calculated patience, finishing with 97 off just 50 balls, decorated with 10 boundaries and 8 towering sixes.
“It means the whole world to me, right from the day I started dreaming of playing for my country, this is the day I was waiting for,” Samson shared during the post-match presentation.
He candidly reflected on his decade-long journey, noting that despite the “ups and downs” and self-doubt, observing legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the dugout provided him with a virtual masterclass in finishing games.
Samson emphasized his tactical shift during the innings, noting that while the previous game was about “going big from ball one,” the collapse of India’s top order—losing Abhishek Sharma (10) and Ishan Kishan (10) early—forced him to pivot.
“I wanted to build a partnership and focus on the process. I just looked at the ball and trusted myself to react to the merit,” he added, acknowledging that the roar of the Kolkata crowd helped him stay grounded in the present moment.
India goes past West Indies to qualify for the semi-finals
The West Indies, batting first, posted a daunting 195/4, fueled by explosive cameos from skipper Shai Hope (32) and late-inning fireworks from Rovman Powell (34) and Jason Holder (37). The Windies’ lower order added 50 runs in the final 20 balls, putting immense pressure on the Indian bowling unit. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers, showing his class with figures of 2/36, while Varun Chakravarthy provided the crucial breakthrough of Hope.
India’s pursuit of 196 began shakily, as they found themselves at 41/2 within the Powerplay. However, Samson found a steady partner in Suryakumar Yadav (18) and later Tilak Varma (27). The turning point came when Samson reached his fifty in just 26 balls, shifting the momentum back to the hosts. Despite losing Hardik Pandya in the 19th over, Shivam Dube walked in to strike a quick 8 off 4 balls, ensuring India crossed the line at 199/5 with four balls to spare.
With this victory, India move into the semi-finals with immense momentum, fuelled by a middle-order that finally looks settled and a new hero in Samson who has proven he can win games on the grandest stage of all.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
