Sanju Samson scoring 97 from 50 in T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against the West Indies, at the Eden Gardens.. no one, including the batter himself would have thought, that he could play this innings. To be in an out of the team regularly, and coming up with an innings of a lifetime, that takes the team into the semis; Sanju could not have asked for a better outcome on Sunday.
Sanju Samson was ‘waiting for this day’
Coming into the virtual quarter-final, there was a lot of pressure on Team India, but Sanju soaked every bit of it, as they chased down 196 successfully. And the 31-year-old summed up his feelings aptly. “It (the win) means the whole world to me. I think right from the day I started playing, started dreaming to play for the country, I think this is the day I was waiting for. And I’m very grateful, very thankful,” he said after winning the match.
India vs England semis now in T20 World Cup
An emotional Sanju Samson also spoke about the ups and downs in his career, where he had been with the team for a long time, but sat out in the dugout for the majority of the times. And how he learnt from the seniors from the dugout. “I’ve always had a very special journey with lots of ups and downs, but I’ve kept on doubting myself, kept on thinking, what if, what if, can I make it, can I make it.
“But I kept on believing and thanks to the Lord Almighty for actually blessing me today. So I’m very happy.. I have been playing this format for a very long time. I was learning 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.”
Just for the record, Sanju also surpassed Virat Kohli’s 82, for the highest score for an Indian in T20 World Cups, in a winning cause, while chasing. Meanwhile, Suryakuymar Yadav’s team now faces England in the second semis in Mumbai on March 5.
