Take a bow! Sanju Samson has pulled off one of the best chases in India’s T20 World Cup history. The opener, who wasn’t even part of the team until the last game, has remained unbeaten on 97 as India chased down 196 runs against the West Indies to set up a semifinal against England on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Abhishek Sharma looked patchy throughout his 11-ball stay in the middle. India was 12/0 after 2 overs. Akeal Hosein came on in the third over, and Samson took him on. He made room on the first ball, moving to his left, and cut the ball from the stumps between cover and point.
Hosein expected Samson to move again, but he stayed put and deposited a full ball down the leg for a six over deep backward square leg. Under immense pressure, Hosein went fast and short at the stumps, and Samson rocked back to pull the ball over deep mid-wicket for another six. All of a sudden, India was on top.
Sanju Samson’s all-time great knock
Before the powerplay ended, India lost Abhishek and Ishan Kishan. He hit just one more boundary and was unbeaten on 24 (13) after the first 6 overs. Samson had done the cameo part, but India needed a lot more from him, considering 196 was required to win and qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal.
In the very next over, facing Jason Holder, who has dismissed him 4 times in 52 balls, he started to find the rope again. Two boundaries in that over were backed by three more in the next two overs. With a six in the 10th over, Samson brought up his maiden T20 World Cup half-century in just 26 balls.
Before India could gain control of the match, Suryakumar Yadav departed for 18. The next two overs, India slowed down as Tilak Varma settled. But from the 13th over onwards, India wrestled control back. Samson and Tilak smashed Shamar Joseph for 17 runs and followed that up with a 15-run over against Roston Chase.
Now, the equation was 60 off 36. 10 runs per over. Considering 7 wickets were in hand, and Samson and Tilak were settled, it should’ve been comfortable. But then, Shimron Hetmyer pulled off a great catch at mid-off to send Tilak, 27 (15) back to the hut. But Samson stayed put as Hardik Pandya entered the middle.
Pandya took charge, hitting two boundaries as Samson rotated the strike. It was clear he wanted to ensure wickets weren’t lost in a bunch. His job was to allow Pandya to do the hitting, since the run rate was well within control. But just then, Shamar got the West Indies back into the game with a well-aimed yorker.
Shivam Dube came with 17 needed off 10 and immediately struck two fours. The final equation was 7 off 6. And Samson, who started the chase, was the man who finished. By smashing two boundaries, Samson aced the chase, remaining unbeaten on 97 (50). Easily one of the greatest knocks in a chase by an Indian or in the T20 World Cup.
Highest score for India in a T20 World Cup chase
- 97: Sanju Samson vs West Indies (2026)
- 82: Virat Kohli vs Pakistan (2022)
- 82: Virat Kohli vs Australia (2016)
- 79: Rohit Sharma vs Australia (2010)
- 78: Virat Kohli vs Pakistan (2012)
- 72: Virat Kohli vs South Africa (2014)
