T20 WC 2026: Sunil Gavaskar, Abhishek Nayar Doff Their Hat To Samson’s 97-run Innings At Eden Gardens Vs West Indies

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Sanju Samson's blistering innings of 97 not out has propelled India to the semifinals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in a must-win Super 8 fixture at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. The Men in Blue will now be facing England in a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup Semifinals. Currently, the record between the two countries is evenly poised.

Speaking on Star Sports' Amul Cricket Live, former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Abhishek Nayar praised Samson's innings, which helped India register their highest chase in the T20 World Cup. The cricket experts also praised the two crucial wickets taken by pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the 11th over, which helped India restrict the Windies to 200.

"This knock of 97 not out takes the weight off not just Sanju Samson's shoulders, but off everyone who knows what a fine player he has been. He has had ups and downs, and we have felt them too because he is such a nice guy. Everybody wants him to do well. All Indian cricket fans will be happy that this sincere cricketer has achieved the success he deserves. To be the Man of the Match in a must-win game is a dream come true," Gavaskar said in the post-match presentation.

Gavaskar added that even though Samson did not score a century in the match, the way he is progressing can definitely help him get one as the tournament enters the business end.

Gavaskar's Analysis Of India's Chase

Gavaskar also praised India's tactics in chasing down a mammoth total by keeping a set batter at one end, as it allows for a smooth strike rotation and keeps dot balls to a minimum. In T20 cricket, reducing wasted deliveries is crucial, and India appears to have adopted this approach well. Scoring off 80 to 85 of the 120 deliveries gives a team a strong chance of chasing totals around 190 to 200, as India showed against the West Indies, noted Gavaskar.

'He Battled Back Into Indian Side': Abhishek Nayar

Former assistant coach of the Indian cricket team, Abhishek Nayar, also praised the innings of Sanju Samson and described his roller coaster journey, which has been through many ups and downs. "After scoring centuries in South Africa, he was pushed down to number five and looked out of sorts in Australia, as it wasn't his natural position. He battled back into the Indian side and made the T20 World Cup squad, only to be replaced by Ishan Kishan. With limited chances, one game against Namibia and another against Zimbabwe, he made his opportunity count with a special 97," Abhishek added in the post-match live.

Jasprit Bumrah's Game-Changing Over

While it was Samson who stole the spotlight with his blistering knock, credits are also due to Jasprit Bumrah, who has become a 'cheat code' for the team India at the ICC tournaments.

Speaking at the post match coverage, both Gavaskar and Nayar said, "You bring him with the new ball, in the middle overs, or at the death. He never disappoints. He always delivers. The wicket of Shimron Hetmyer set it up for India. Hetmyer was looking very dangerous in these conditions. As a fast bowler, you think yorker or a bouncer. But to bowl a length ball there and get a wicket is very difficult to execute. Then he bowled a brilliant slow ball to get rid of Roston Chase. That broke the back of the West Indies batting. Both batters were set. To get two set batters in one over just demoralises the opposition. Bumrah was brilliant as ever."

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Semifinals Live Streaming Details

South Africa will take on New Zealand in the first semi-final at Eden Gardens on March 4, Kolkata while England will take on India in the second semi-final at the Wankhede in Mumbai on March 5. You can catch all the live action from 7 pm onwards at the JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.