Just when questions were beginning to grow louder, India delivered a statement performance. On Sunday night at Eden Gardens, they sealed a thrilling five-wicket win over the West Indies to book their place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive edition.
Defending champions India knew this was not going to be easy. The pitch was good for batting and the West Indies have been in explosive form throughout the tournament. Even so, the Indian bowlers did well to restrict them to 195 instead of letting the total cross 200 in such a high-pressure clash. That effort quietly laid the foundation for what followed.
Chasing 196 was always going to test India’s nerves and early setbacks made it even tougher. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan fell cheaply within the first five overs, putting the team under immediate pressure. That is when Sanju Samson stepped in and turned the game on its head with a magnificent unbeaten 97, guiding India to victory in the final over.
For Sanju Samson, this knock carried deep personal meaning. Over the past few months, he had lost his place as opener twice, first to Shubman Gill and later to Ishan Kishan. Before this match, he had featured in only two of India’s five games in the ongoing World Cup. When the team management brought him back for this crucial encounter, they also reshuffled the batting order to counter teams using early off-spin against India’s left-handed top order.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has consistently backed Sanju Samson, was full of praise after the match. He described Samson as a world-class player and said this innings proved what he is truly capable of. Gambhir explained that it was about trusting his talent and giving him the right opportunity. According to him, Samson rose to the occasion when the team needed him the most.
Interestingly, Gambhir pointed out that Sanju Samson’s innings did not feel like an all-out assault. Instead, it was built on controlled, classical shots. He noted that there was no unnecessary power-hitting, just smart cricketing strokes and excellent timing. With the wicket playing well and the outfield quick, Sanju Samson trusted his ability and played within himself.
The coach also revealed that Samson had been batting brilliantly in the nets, even though he struggled during the five-match T20I series against New Zealand before the World Cup. A small but important knock against Zimbabwe earlier in the tournament had helped rebuild his confidence. Gambhir stressed that practice form does not always translate immediately into match performances but the team always believed in his potential.
He also highlighted the value of having both Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan in the squad. According to Gambhir, Sanju and Ishan are two really good players and having two wicketkeeper-batters of such quality gives India strong options for the present and the future.
With two more matches potentially left in the tournament, India’s title defence suddenly feels alive again and Sanju Samson’s 97* might just be the turning point.
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