The moment the winning boundary raced to the fence, Sanju Samson stood still for a second. Then he removed his helmet, went down on his knees, folded his hands and looked up. It wasn’t just relief, it was emotion pouring out after months of uncertainty in his India career.
On Sunday night at Eden Gardens, Sanju Samson played one of the finest knocks of his life, scoring an unbeaten 97 to guide India to a five-wicket win over the West Indies in a must-win Super 8 match of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The victory confirmed India’s place in the semi-finals.
The celebration quickly became the talking point. When asked about it later, Sanju Samson kept his explanation simple. He said it was a deeply personal and special moment for him, something he prefers to keep private, adding that his faith means a lot to him.
Chasing 196 was never going to be easy. Although the conditions at Eden Gardens often make batting easier later in the evening due to dew, the regular fall of wickets made the task complicated. Sanju Samson admitted that while the total looked manageable considering India’s batting strength, losing partners at crucial moments forced him to adjust his approach.
He explained that when wickets kept falling, he felt a responsibility to stay till the end and finish the game. Drawing on his experience, he focused on pacing the chase rather than playing reckless shots. He said such plans don’t always work out, which made this successful finish even more satisfying.
Sanju Samson also shared how chasing under pressure is very different from setting a target. Instead of constantly looking for big sixes, he chose smarter options, relied on timing and targeted boundaries. With the ball coming nicely onto the bat and the West Indies bowlers operating at good pace, he trusted his technique and kept things simple.
For a player who had recently lost the preferred opener’s slot to two different teammates, this innings felt like redemption.
India will now face England in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday and all eyes will once again be on Sanju Samson.
