NEW DELHI: Perpetually under scrutiny, Sanju Samson rose above the noise with a superb 97 not out as India defeated West Indies by five wickets in their T20 World Cup Super Eights clash on Sunday to seal a semifinal berth.
India will now take on England cricket team in the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium on March 5.
Asked to bat, West Indies followed a clear attacking template, building around Roston Chase before a late surge from Rovman Powell and Jason Holder powered them to a daunting 195 for 4.
Cometh the hour, cometh Sanju Samson! 🫡
9⃣7⃣*(50) – A knock for the ages to take #TeamIndia into the semi-finals👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ur4pr8Bi3K#T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #INDvWI | @IamSanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/ftJRp2wMTE
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2026
Calm under pressure at Eden Gardens
In front of a packed Eden Gardens, Sanju stood tall on a night when India’s in form batsmen faltered. His commanding knock carried India to 199 for 5 in 19.2 overs.
Abhishek Sharma endured a tough outing and also put down two chances in the field. Ishan Kishan departed cheaply.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya all got starts but could not push on.
Against that backdrop, Sanju, playing only his third match of the tournament, became the defining figure. He struck 12 fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 50 ball effort, batting deep to finish the chase with four balls to spare.
Sanju brought the scores level in the 19th over by launching Romario Shepherd high over square leg for a towering six.
He then sealed the win with a firm stroke past mid on to confirm India’s semifinal spot and end West Indies’ campaign at the venue where they lifted their last World Cup in 2016.
As patriotic chants echoed around the ground, Sanju sank to his knees, removed his helmet and offered a quiet prayer while the BCCI top brass applauded from the stands.
Partnerships that shaped the chase
Sanju first rebuilt the innings in a 58 run third wicket stand with Suryakumar, absorbing pressure before accelerating.
After the captain’s dismissal, India briefly slowed, but Sanju stayed composed and kept the scoreboard ticking.
The decisive momentum came in a 42-run partnership with Tilak that swung the contest firmly India’s way.
Suryakumar fell against the run of play, slicing Joseph to deep point where Sherfane Rutherford held on.
From 98 for 2 needing the same again, India drifted momentarily without a boundary and lost their set captain.
Yet there was no panic as Sanju and Tilak batted with maturity.
West Indies turned again to Roston Chase, their partnership breaker, with Tilak watchful at first.
But Tilak soon found his rhythm against Joseph, striking three successive boundaries.
Sanju opened the over with a straight driven four before Tilak unfurled a lofted drive, a crisp slice through point and a neat clip through square leg.
The lull ended with a 17 run over that shifted the chase decisively.
Sanju’s half century reflected calm control and intent.
Off Gudakesh Motie, he rocked back to cut through point for four to reach the milestone before returning to his measured approach.
It has been a roller coaster journey for Sanju, sidelined more than once before reclaiming his place.
He was first left out after Ishan’s return in the New Zealand series and recalled only when Abhishek was unavailable for the Namibia match.
After Abhishek returned for the Pakistan clash, Sanju again made way before being drafted back following the batting collapse against South Africa.
West Indies set the platform but India responded
Earlier, Chase made full use of two reprieves to score a fluent 40, adding 68 for the opening wicket with Shai Hope.
The pair ensured a proactive start against the new ball.
India briefly hit back when Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in the 12th over, but the respite did not last.
Powell and Holder then stitched an unbeaten 76 run stand off just 35 balls to deliver a powerful finish.
India used Bumrah in short bursts, holding him back for the death despite his middle overs success.
The move didn’t quite work.
Powell hammered Arshdeep Singh for 24 runs in the 16th over to tilt the momentum.
Arshdeep ended with 0 for 43, while Bumrah was India’s standout with 2 for 36.
(With PTI Inputs)
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