Samson’s Unbeaten 97 Powers India Into T20 World Cup Semi-Finals

A breathtaking unbeaten 97 from Sanju Samson steered India to a dramatic five-wicket win over West Indies and into the semi-finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic Eden Gardens on Sunday.

Chasing a daunting 196 in what was effectively a knockout contest, India found themselves under early pressure after losing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan inside the powerplay. With the stakes high and the required rate climbing, Samson responded in emphatic fashion. The opener tore into the West Indies attack, bringing up a blistering half-century in just 26 deliveries and shifting the momentum firmly in India’s favour.

Partnering skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Samson stitched together a crucial 50-run stand that stabilised the innings and kept the chase on course. While wickets fell at intervals, Samson remained composed, mixing clean power-hitting with smart placement to anchor the pursuit until the final stages.

His 97 not out now stands as the highest score by an Indian batter in a T20 World Cup chase, eclipsing Virat Kohli’s previous best of 82 against Australia and Pakistan. Though he narrowly missed out on a century, the knock will be remembered as one of India’s finest under pressure in the format.

Earlier, West Indies had posted a competitive 195 for 5 after being asked to bat first by Suryakumar Yadav. Contributions from Roston Chase, Rovman Powell and Jason Holder provided the late surge, ensuring the Caribbean side finished strongly in the final Super 8 fixture. With a semi-final berth on the line, both teams approached the contest with urgency, but it was India who ultimately held their nerve.

The victory marks a strong resurgence for India, who had bounced back from a defeat to South Africa with a commanding win over Zimbabwe in their previous outing. While concerns linger over middle-overs bowling consistency, the batting unit appears to have rediscovered its rhythm at a critical juncture of the tournament.

On a high-pressure night in Kolkata, it was Samson’s fearless strokeplay that lit up Eden Gardens and carried India one step closer to World Cup glory.

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