As the men’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 progresses, India’s thrilling march into the semifinals led to former Pakistani fast bowler Mohammed Amir being heavily trolled on social media. On 1st March, at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India defeated the West Indies by five wickets in a nail-biting Super-8 match to secure their place among the final four. The team chased down a challenging target of 196 runs with four balls to spare.
Mohammed Amir, during a TV show, had confidently asserted that even if Pakistan qualifies, India wouldn’t make it to the semifinals. This statement had grabbed a lot of media attention at the time. However, the Indian team’s emphatic performance on the field proved him wrong, leading to fans trolling Amir post India’s victory over the West Indies.
India had a rocky start in the Super-8 stage, facing a crushing 76-run defeat against South Africa. Nonetheless, they staged an impressive comeback. At Wankhede Stadium, India triumphed over Zimbabwe and then secured their semifinal ticket by defeating the West Indies.
The hero of this historic triumph was Sanju Samson. India faced early setbacks with both openers departing within the powerplay, collapsing to 41/2. Tensions were palpable in the stadium. At this critical juncture, Samson stepped up to the occasion, crafting an unbeaten 97 off 50 deliveries, embellished with 12 fours and four sixes. He displayed maturity and restraint, guiding the innings wisely. His 58-run partnership with Suryakumar Yadav brought stability. Subsequently, valuable contributions from Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube paved the path to victory.
In the final over, with seven needed off six balls, Sanju Samson easily swung the game by first smashing Romario Shepherd for a six and then sealing the match with a match-winning four over mid-on. Now, in the semifinals, India faces Harry Brook-led England, once again at the Wankhede Stadium. This victory not only disproved Mohammed Amir’s remarks but also showcased how the team transforms pressure on a grand stage into an opportunity.
