Sanju Samson goes past Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli at one go with West Indies Knock, only One India player ahead of Him

For years, the debate around Sanju Samson has been about potential. At the Eden Gardens in the 2026 T20 World Cup virtual quarter-final, that potential finally transformed into a permanent legacy with a fantastic unbeaten 97, that has taken him above India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

In a high-stakes encounter against the West Indies, Samson didn't just play an innings; he rewrote the record books, leaping past three of India's greatest modern-day legends in a single night.

Sanju Samson goes past Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma

With the pressure of a "win or go home" scenario, Samson walked into the crease when India needed a steady hand and a heavy bat. The Caribbean pace attack was breathing fire, but Samson responded with his signature elegance.

His 97 off just 54 balls* was a clinic in T20 batting. Whether it was the effortless back-foot punches or the towering sixes over long-on, he looked untouchable. While he narrowly missed out on a century, his unbeaten knock ensured India's passage into the semi-finals. It wasn't just about the runs; it was about the statement. By the time he walked off to a standing ovation, he had officially overtaken the T20 World Cup peaks of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav.

Samson's 97* has reshuffled the hierarchy of Indian T20 batting. He now sits comfortably at the second spot, with only the legendary Suresh Raina standing above him.

Highest individual scores for India in T20 World Cups

101 Suresh Raina vs SA Gros Islet 2010
97*Sanju Samson vs WI Eden Gardens 2026
92 Rohit Sharma vs Aus Gros Islet 2024
89*Virat Kohli vs WI Wankhede 2016
84*Suryakumar Yadav vs USA Wankhede 2026

For 16 years, Suresh Raina has stood alone as the only Indian centurion in T20 World Cup history. His 101 against South Africa in 2010 remains the gold standard. While Rohit Sharma came close in 2024 and Suryakumar Yadav showed his class against the USA earlier in this tournament, nobody had truly threatened Raina's throne until Samson's 2026 masterclass.

Samson fell just 4 runs short of the triple figures, but in doing so, he surpassed Rohit Sharma's fiery 92 and Virat Kohli's iconic 89* from the 2016 semi-final.

Often being labelled as the "underdog" in a star-studded Indian lineup, Sanju Samson has proven that he belongs in the same breath as Kohli and Rohit by delivering in a virtual quarter-final. While Raina still holds the peak, Samson has established himself as the new backbone of the Indian top order. If India goes on to lift the trophy in 2026, this 97* will be remembered as the moment the "Samson Era" truly began.