In a thrilling do-or-die encounter at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Sunday, India's batsman Sanju Samson delivered a captivating performance. With a critical victory required against the West Indies, Samson's blistering innings of 97 runs off just 50 balls propelled India into the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
Faced with a daunting target of 196 runs, India chased it down in 19.2 overs. This went down as one of the greatest run-chases in India's T20 World Cup history. Amid the roaring Kolkata crowd, Samson struck 12 fours and 4 sixes. After losing two early wickets, he steadied the innings showing remarkable calm under pressure.
Why Sanju Samson Became Emotional
As he accepted the Player of the Match award post-game, Samson's eyes welled up with emotion. He said, "This means the world to me. Ever since I started playing cricket, I dreamed of representing my country. I have waited for this day. My career has seen ups and downs, and at times I questioned my success, but I never lost faith. Thank God, I was able to witness this day."
'Learning from Kohli and Rohit'
Samson acknowledged the immense learning he gained from senior players. He explained that he has been around the national team for about ten years and has closely observed legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
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He stated, "Though I may have played 50-60 matches, I have witnessed nearly 100 matches from the dugout. Watching great players finish games in challenging conditions taught me a lot."
Altered Strategy Led to Victory
Samson revealed that the previous match was different, where the team batted first and approached aggressively. However, with falling wickets in this match, his focus shifted to building partnerships and concentrating on each ball. He remarked, "I didn't think of doing anything special, just tried to fulfill my responsibility. This is one of the biggest days of my life."
Read More: Sanju Samson's 'Special 97' Topples West Indies, Team India Sets Records in Kolkata with Historic Run-Chase
Return from Poor Form
Since 2025, Samson's form had been lackluster, with just 180 runs in the last 13 matches and an average of 13.84. He sustained himself only twice in the powerplay. After Shubman Gill's return, Samson was pushed down the batting order and eventually dropped from the team.
Yet, in this crucial match, he silenced his critics with one of the finest innings in T20 World Cup history. India will now face England in the semi-finals on March 5 in Mumbai.
