India are through to the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after a thrilling five-wicket win over West Indies in a virtual quarter-final at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Chasing a 196, with a semi-final berth on the line, India held their nerve to finish on 199/5 in 19.2 overs. Earlier, the Windies posted 195/4, thanks to late fireworks from Rovman Powell and Jason Holder. Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s twin strikes in the middle overs, India were left with their highest-ever chase in T20 World Cup history.
But Sanju Samson, who had lost his place before the tournament and waited patiently for an opportunity, delivered a career-defining 97* off just 50 balls. His innings, laced with 12 fours and four sixes, kept India in the game as the asking rate rose, even as wickets fell around him. With seven needed off the final over, Samson finished it in style. India now moves on to face England in the semi-finals.
Top Batting performance of the match – Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson was the difference-maker with the bat as India sealed their semi-final berth in the T20 World Cup. In a must-win clash, Samson produced a 97* off 50 balls. In the process, he surpassed Virat Kohli’s 82* as the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup run chase. Samson raced to his fifty in just 26 balls. With India losing wickets at crucial junctures, Samson held the innings together, ensuring the asking rate never spiralled out of control.
Top Bowling performance of the match – Jasprit Bumrah
With West Indies cruising at 102/1 and threatening to take the game away, Jasprit Bumrah produced a match-turning over that swung momentum back in India’s favour. The ace pacer got the better of Roston Chase and Shimron Hetmyer in a single over. Bumrah struck first in the 11th over. Angling a short-of-length delivery across Hetmyer. There was an inside edge through to Sanju Samson, and UltraEdge confirmed the spike. Two balls later, Bumrah delivered again. This time, he rolled his fingers over a slower ball, deceiving Chase completely as he could only lob it towards cover, where Suryakumar Yadav judged a superb catch.
Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved
- Sanju Samson remained unbeaten in a T20 run-chase as an opener for the first time in 29 such innings across T20Is and IPL.
- India recorded their fifth consecutive T20I win over the West Indies cricket team at Eden Gardens without a defeat.
- Samson’s 97* is now the second-highest individual score for India in T20 World Cups, behind Suresh Raina’s 101 in 2010.
- India’s 196-run chase is their highest-ever successful chase in T20 World Cups, surpassing 173 vs South Africa in 2014.
- The 196 chase is also the third-highest successful chase in T20 World Cup history.
- India reached their sixth T20 World Cup semi-final, joining Pakistan and England with the joint-most appearances (6).
- Rovman Powell became West Indies’ leading six-hitter in T20Is, reaching 150 sixes and overtaking Nicholas Pooran (149).
- The match aggregate of 394 runs is the highest involving India and West Indies in Men’s T20 World Cup history.
- Samson’s 97* is the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup run-chase, going past Virat Kohli’s 82*.
- West Indies’ 76 sixes in the 2026 edition are the second-most by a team in a T20I series.
- India has dropped 13 catches in the tournament, the most by any team this World Cup.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Sanju Samson was the Man of the moment in the virtual quarter-finals against West Indies. The opener scored an unbeaten 97 and almost single-handedly took India to the semis. Samson laced his knock with 12 boundaries and four sixes, striking at 194.00.
What is the next match?
India will now fly to Mumbai to face England in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup, set to be played on 05 March. Meanwhile, the West Indies’ campaign has ended in Kolkata.
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