Sanju Samson stood on the outfield at Eden Gardens, bat raised, soaking it all in. Moments earlier he had steered India past West Indies with an unbeaten 97 from 50 balls – the highest score by an Indian in a men’s T20 World Cup chase. “I never felt that I would do something special like this but I was just focusing on my role,” he said, Player-of-the-Match medal in hand. “Just keeping one ball at a time and very grateful, I think this is one of the greatest days of my life.”
The match was effectively a quarter-final: win and India progressed, lose and they were out. West Indies’ 183 for 6 looked a touch above par on a surface that held up, yet Samson’s composure ensured the target was overhauled with four balls to spare. His innings eclipsed Virat Kohli’s twin 82-not-outs (Mohali 2016; Melbourne 2022) to set a new benchmark for Indian chasers at the tournament.
Anil Kumble, watching from the television studio, offered a neat summary. “Samson’s shot selection was outstanding,” he said, noting how the right-hander shifted gears without slogging. Faf du Plessis nodded alongside him, calling the knock “smart, fearless cricket”.
Samson’s path has rarely been straight. He debuted for India in 2015 as a 20-year-old but this was only his 59th T20 international. He began the tournament as reserve opener; off-spinners aimed at India’s left-heavy top order opened a door, and he walked through decisively. “It means the whole world actually to me,” he explained. “I’ve always had a very special journey with lots of ups and downs. I’ve kept on doubting myself… but I kept on believing.”
Crucial to the chase was the way he throttled down when wickets fell. “As soon as I wanted to go a bit higher, we were losing wickets, so I wanted to build a partnership and keep on focusing on my process,” he said. That judgement owed plenty, he added, to evenings spent studying Kohli and Rohit Sharma: “I’ve seen the greatest people finish games and how they change their game according to the game situation.”
Suryakumar Yadav, leading India in this campaign, credited the 29-year-old for doing just that. “See, I always say good things happen to good people who wait,” the captain remarked. “It’s all his hard work – what he’s been doing behind the doors when he was not playing. The way he batted completely took the side to victory.”
Samson’s numbers underline the point. He struck nine fours and six sixes, finding gaps early before clearing them later. Only once did he look rushed, miscued on 45, but the ball fell safely beyond mid-wicket. West Indies never regained control.
India now head to Mumbai for a semi-final many assumed they would reach, yet their method on Saturday suggested lessons absorbed from previous campaigns. Samson, for one, is unlikely to forget it. “I think this is the day I was waiting for,” he said, a broad grin betraying both relief and quiet pride.
