Sanju Samson played a remarkable innings, guiding India to the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a thrilling five-wicket win over West Indies at Eden Gardens. This victory marks the highest successful chase in T20Is at this venue.
Chasing a challenging target of 196 runs, Samson’s unbeaten 97 steered India’s chase, securing the win with four balls to spare and setting up a semi-final clash against England. Despite a shaky start with early wickets falling, Samson’s composed batting under pressure turned the game in India’s favor.
After losing early wickets, Samson took charge of the chase, carefully pacing his innings before accelerating when needed, ensuring India stayed on track. Partnering with Suryakumar Yadav and later Tilak Varma, Samson built crucial partnerships to keep India ahead of the required run rate.
Throughout the innings, Samson displayed a mix of elegance and power, reaching a vital half-century off just 27 balls. Even as wickets fell around him, he remained unfazed, steering India towards victory with a mix of calculated aggression and smart batting.
West Indies fought back with quick wickets, but Samson’s calm approach and Shivam Dube’s support in the final overs sealed the win for India. Samson’s unbeaten 97 not out stands as the highest individual score for India in a T20 World Cup run chase, surpassing previous records set by Virat Kohli and others.
