Sanju Samson orchestrated India’s triumph through a remarkable unbeaten innings of 97 runs from 50 deliveries, propelling his team to successfully chase down 196 runs against the West Indies in what amounted to a crucial quarter-final encounter during the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage at Kolkata on Sunday. This victory secured India’s progression to the semi-finals, simultaneously eliminating the West Indies from the tournament. Samson remained at the crease throughout the innings as India achieved the highest successful T20I run chase recorded at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, establishing their most substantial successful pursuit in T20 World Cup competition. Following their innings, the West Indies had posted 195/5 across their allotted 20 overs. India’s semi-final clash against England is scheduled for Thursday in Mumbai. Sanju’s Super Chasing Factor Took The Game Away From West Indies As India Reached Semi Final .
TOSS
India secured the toss and elected to bowl first
PLAYING XI
West Indies (Playing XI):
Shai Hope(w/c), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
India (Playing XI):
Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
WEST INDIES
A significant portion of the West Indies’ batting performance following their invitation to bat first exhibited the cautious approach of someone navigating treacherous terrain without urgency, with much of this restraint attributable to captain Shai Hope’s approach. On a surface that offered minimal assistance to bowlers, Hope consumed 25 balls during the Powerplay to accumulate precisely 25 runs. Roston Chase, deployed as an improvised opening batsman, demonstrated superior attacking instincts initially and received good fortune when Abhishek Sharma dropped a straightforward catching opportunity. Despite these circumstances, the opening six overs produced merely 45 runs without any dismissals.
India had strategically reserved their premier bowling resources, with Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy held in readiness, collectively capable of delivering seven of the remaining 14 overs. Chakaravarthy had entered this tournament amid scrutiny regarding his form, but upon his introduction after the fielding restrictions concluded, he terminated Hope’s struggling innings with a delivery that maintained low trajectory and demolished the stumps.
India’s reaction proved swift and decisive. Bumrah resumed his spell, attracted by the favorable matchup – having previously dismissed Hetmyer on five occasions across 21 deliveries in T20 cricket, requiring merely two balls to extend that record to six dismissals. The left-handed batsman attempted an aggressive stroke but managed only a faint edge, subsequently confirmed through UltraEdge technology upon review, thus concluding his promising 12-ball 27. Within the same over, Bumrah produced another deceptive slower delivery, and Chase found no reprieve as Suryakumar Yadav secured the catch convincingly.
Subsequently, the innings experienced a period of stagnation. Across five overs, 43 runs were scored while three wickets fell, with Hardik Pandya contributing by claiming Sherfane Rutherford’s dismissal. The momentum shifted dramatically during the 16th over when Arshdeep Singh delivered a short-pitched ball, conceded five extras through wides, and Rovman Powell responded explosively with two maximums and a boundary in an over worth 24 runs. Jason Holder continued the aggressive approach, extracting 14 runs from Chakaravarthy’s subsequent over. Although Arshdeep recovered composure for an economical 19th over, a 14-run final over against Bumrah conveyed its own narrative: the West Indies had accumulated 70 runs from their final five overs, positioning themselves tantalizingly close to 200 runs and challenging India to pursue a target they had never previously achieved in T20 World Cup history.
INDIA-
Basically, India’s batting start was the same as a cold engine – they scored only 12 runs in the first two overs. Then Samson decided to attack left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein during the Powerplay, and we are seeing that he only made things difficult for himself by changing the game completely. Basically, India got going with a cut for four, then the same batsman hit a six over the boundary from a full ball, and pulled another shot off the back foot. We are seeing that Hosein had the final say, as he only managed to get Abhishek Sharma out, who made another small score in this tournament that has been tough for him.
Basically, India’s Powerplay had the same turbulent problems continuing. Ishan Kishan actually tried to pull Jason Holder’s short ball but definitely got caught by Shimron Hetmyer at deep mid-wicket. As per Samson’s batting performance, he scored 24 runs from 13 balls and helped India reach 53 for 2 after six overs.
India surely added 45 runs with Samson playing smart cricket, hitting boundaries through mid-off against Holder and scoring easily off Motie. Moreover, he hit a six and four off Shepherd before reaching his fifty in just 26 balls with another boundary. He actually played with controlled power, and he definitely kept marking his guard to show his work wasn’t finished yet.
Suryakumar Yadav surely struggled to find his rhythm during the 58-run partnership. Moreover, he never looked comfortable at the crease throughout this stand. He got a chance to stay when Motie dropped a simple catch, but he further got out by hitting Shamar Joseph’s ball straight to the fielder, which ended his innings itself. As per the match situation, Samson was chasing the target calmly but the game became tough when West Indies bowled two overs in a row giving only six runs. But basically Tilak Varma was thinking the same different thing. He attacked Shamar Joseph with full confidence and helped score 32 runs in the next two overs, which further brought the target down to 60 runs from 36 balls itself.
India surely lost Tilak and Hardik Pandya in the final stretch, but Samson held firm to deliver the finishing blow with four balls remaining. Moreover, he then collapsed to his knee in quiet celebration after securing the victory.
Brief scores:
As per the match result, India defeated West Indies by five wickets regarding their chase of 196 runs. West Indies scored 195/4 in 20 overs while India reached 199/5 in 19.2 overs with Sanju Samson scoring 97 runs.
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