BY IVASHREE
Sometimes, cricket gives us a night so sparkling it feels like magic. For India national cricket team fans, that night belonged to Sanju Samson, who played a mature, heart-thumping 97* to guide India to a thrilling five-wicket victory over the West Indies national cricket team and a spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals.
Chasing 196, India lost two early wickets and looked shaky, but Samson was as calm as a cat basking in the sun. He played an opening partnership with ease, hitting his strokes perfectly and rotating the strike astutely. His 97 not out was made from just 54 balls with 12 boundaries and 4 towering sixes to take India to victory with four balls to spare.Not only was it his highest T20 World Cup score, but it also became the highest individual score by an Indian in a World Cup chase, surpassing Virat Kohli’s previous record of 96.
Former India stars quickly sang Samson’s praises. Sunil Gavaskar called the innings “a joy to watch and a sign that Samson has finally embraced his big-match hero side,” while head coach Gautam Gambhir said it was “a textbook mix of calm and aggression.” Even captain Suryakumar Yadav bowed to his teammate in admiration, a gesture that perfectly captured the mood.
Samson’s strike rate of 179.6 and his ability to handle pressure situations have been topics of conversation in cricket circles for years. Until now, the Kerala-born batter had often been seen as brilliant but inconsistent. Last night, he was steady, fearless, and sparkling all at once.Statistics also indicate that this has been the quickest 90+ score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup knock, which included partnerships of 68 and 45 for the 2nd and 3rd wickets, providing India with the much-needed stability.
This innings is more than just a score; it has the potential to be a turning point for India. Samson has shown that he can carry the team on his shoulders, and this has certainly boosted India’s morale ahead of their the semi-final clash against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Fans are already dreaming: could this be the year Samson cements himself as India’s ultimate T20 finisher?
If last night is anything to go by, India has a little magic tucked into its middle order and Samson just gave it a name.