Yesterday India vs West Indies match result: Sanju Samson says he has played 50 but seen 100 matches of Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma which helped him to plan WI game

India secured a T20 World Cup semi-final showdown with England after a tense five-wicket victory over West Indies. Thanks to Sanju Samson's scintillating unbeaten 97. Samson scored an unbeaten 97 off just 50 balls to drag India to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, hitting 12 fours and four sixes- as India chased chased down 196 in a thrilling winner-takes-all encounter to round off the Super 8 stage at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Sanju Samson credited the invaluable lessons he learned from stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, saying that closely observing them from the dugout helped shape his understanding of finishing games and adapting to different match situations during crucial moments.

Sanju Samson credits Kohli, Rohit Sharma

“I think that’s why I have been playing this format for a very long time. I think playing IPL around 10 to 12 years and playing for the country from last 10 years, I have not been playing, but looking from the dugout, learning from the greats like Virat Kohli, from Rohit Sharma, like all the greats. I think it’s very important to observe and learn and see what they were doing. I think that really helped me to, I think with my experience, I have only played maybe 50, 60 games, but I’ve seen around 100 games and I’ve seen how the greatest people have finished the games and how do they change their game according to the game,” Samson said.


“It means the whole world to me, actually. Right from the day I started dreaming of playing for the country, this is what I was waiting for. I have been playing this format for a very long time. I was learing from the dugout watching the likes of Virat and greats from the game. I wanted to build a partnership. I never felt that I will do something special like this. One of the greatest days of my life. They do bring a lot of support and energy. I just watched the ball and trusted myself to play the shots," Samson said after winning Player of the Match.

The opener brought up his half-century in just 26 balls and built a crucial 50-run partnership with India captain Suryakumar Yadav after early wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan fell during the chase of 196. On Sunday, Samson set the highest score by an Indian batter in a chase in the T20 World Cup, going past Virat Kohli’s twin scores of 82 runs (against Australia and Pakistan). India face England in the semifinals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5.

Kal ka match kaun jita?

Sanju Samson stayed unbeaten on 97 as India successfully chased 195 with four balls to spare. Sanju Samson rose to the occasion, producing a gem of an innings to take his team past the West Indies and into the final four of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. India will now face England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5.

Samson led the chase with an unbeaten 97, as India brought up 199/5 in 19.2 overs. It was the highest score by an Indian in a run-chase at the T20 World Cup.

Praising his teammate’s perseverance on the biggest stage, Suryakumar Yadav lauded Sanju Samson for staying patient through the highs and lows, saying his long wait and hard work away from the spotlight had finally paid off when it mattered the most.

"See I always say good things happen to good people who wait. Who have a lot of patience. All his hard work ,what he has been doing behind the doors when he hasn't been playing, he has got the fruits for it at the perfect stage," Suryakumar Yadav said.

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The victory saw the defending champions knock out the two-time winners and book a semifinal clash with England cricket team. India will take on England in the second semifinal at Wankhede Stadium on March 5 — a rematch of the 2024 semifinal.

The first semifinal will feature South Africa national cricket team against New Zealand national cricket team at Eden Gardens on March 4, while the final is set to be played on March 8 at Narendra Modi Stadium.

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