Sourav Ganguly on Sanju Samson 97: ‘He Should Consistently Play for India’

Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on Sanju Samson's defining knock at Eden Gardens - and he did not hold back.

Speaking in Kolkata a day after India's dramatic five-wicket win over West Indies in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash, the former India captain called Samson's unbeaten 97 "outstanding" and made a strong case for his continuity in white-ball cricket.

"He's a very good player. He should consistently play for India in the white ball," Ganguly said. "He is that sort of player; when he gets in, he will hurt the opposition. He played to the situation which is important."

That last line matters. Samson's 97 off 50 balls wasn't just a highlight reel of clean hitting. India were chasing 196 in a virtual quarterfinal. Wickets kept falling at the other end. The asking rate hovered, dipped, rose again. And Samson - who has often been judged on flair - chose calculation over chaos.

Ganguly's praise centered on that awareness. The ability to shift gears without losing control. The discipline to avoid low-percentage shots in a pressure chase. For a player who has faced scrutiny over inconsistency, this innings felt like a statement crafted under floodlights.

The win sealed India's semi-final berth, setting up a March 5 clash against England.

Ganguly, however, offered a word of caution ahead of that knockout."England will be a stronger opposition than West Indies," he said. "So the approach of Indian batsmen should be to play according to the conditions."

Translation: romance is good, realism is better.England bring depth, pace variations and big-match experience. India's batters will need to read surfaces, manage phases and resist emotional overdrive. If Samson's Eden Gardens masterclass was about belief rediscovered, the semi-final will be about belief sustained.

In tournaments like this, one innings can change perception. Consistency changes legacy.