T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson Finishes in Style With Six and Four as India Beat West Indies to Reach Semi-Finals

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Kolkata, Mar 1: Sanju Samson played of the best knocks from an Indian in the T20 World Cup as Team India stormed into the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a stunning five-wicket win over West Indies.

In a pulsating Super Eight clash at iconic Eden Gardens, India successfully chased down 196 with four balls to spare to claim their highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history. Samson - who has been one of the most closely scrutinised batters in India - scored 97* off 50 balls and finished the game in style with a six and a boundary for the hosts.

After being invited to bat first by Suryakumar Yadav, West Indies built their innings on a solid 68-run opening stand between Shai Hope (32) and Roston Chase (36). India's spinners, led by Varun Chakaravarthy, tightened the scoring through the middle overs, but the game swung dramatically at the death.

Rovman Powell and Jason Holder launched a brutal counterattack, stitching an unbeaten 76-run partnership off 35 balls for the fifth wicket. Powell reached his 150th T20I six and tore into Arshdeep Singh during a 24-run over, while Holder provided the finishing thrust. West Indies plundered 70 runs in the last five overs to post a daunting 195/4.

Amid the carnage, Jasprit Bumrah (2/36) stood out, delivering a crucial double strike to remove Shimron Hetmyer and Chase, briefly halting the momentum.

India Rocked Early in the Chase

The steep chase got off to a shaky start as Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan fell inside the Powerplay, leaving India under pressure in a must-win encounter. The early blows silenced a packed Eden Gardens and brought Sanju Samson to the crease at a critical juncture.

Samson-SKY Partnership Rebuilds the Innings

Samson counterpunched immediately, combining elegant strokeplay with calculated aggression. He shared a stabilising 50-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav (18), shifting the momentum back towards India. Even after SKY fell to a sharp catch by Sherfane Rutherford, Samson maintained the tempo, reaching his half-century in just 26 balls.

Tilak Varma (27) ensured the required rate never spiralled, rotating strike and picking boundaries at key moments. Hardik Pandya (17) added late impetus with a couple of powerful hits before falling in the penultimate over, leaving India needing 7 runs off the final over.

Calm Finish Seals Historic Win

Shivam Dube eased the pressure by smashing the first ball of the final over for four, and fittingly, it was Samson who sealed the win with a boundary, finishing unbeaten on a magnificent 97 off 50 balls (12 fours, 4 sixes). His innings blended composure, shot selection and match awareness, anchoring one of India's most memorable chases in global T20 cricket.

Semi-Final Beckons

The victory sets up a semi-final clash against England, while West Indies bow out despite their explosive batting display. For India, the night belonged to Samson, whose knock not only delivered qualification but also marked a defining moment in his T20 career.