Watch: “Good things happen to good people” – Suryakumar Yadav praises Sanju Samson after brilliant knock vs West Indies in Super 8 clash

India reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup after registering a five-wicket win over West Indies in the Super 8 match on Sunday. Sanju Samson played a brilliant, unbeaten knock of 97 runs and helped India chase the target of 196 with four balls remaining.

The wicketkeeper-batter broke Virat Kohli’s record for the highest individual score in a successful T20 World Cup chase for India. Samson scored 97 runs off 50 balls and hit the winning runs. As he walked back to the dugout, Suryakumar greeted him by taking off his cap and bowing in appreciation.

In a video shared by the Indian Cricket Team, Suryakumar once again praised Samson. He said that during the training camp, Samsonhad emphasised putting the team first before personal achievements. The Indian skipper was also seen speaking continuously about Samson, while the wicketkeeper’s hilarious reply appeared towards the end of the clip.

Watch the special moment below: 

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What did Suryakumar say about Samson?

“See, I always say good things happen to good people who wait and have a lot of patience. I said it just now when I met him. It is all his hard work behind the scenes when he was not playing. He has now got the reward at the perfect stage. The way he batted took the team to victory.”

The Indian skipper refused to talk much about the tough period Samson faced when he was in and out of the side and was asked to bat in the middle order. However, he said Samson played a courageous knock and deserves all the praise.

“In life, we see many ups and downs. I don’t want to go back to what happened during the whole year — losing his place, batting out of position, and then coming back to bat in the same position.”

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“It is not easy to win the World Cup. Matches in ICC tournaments are won by courageous players, and this was a courageous knock. He could have got carried away after a good start, but he held one end and took the team forward. He deserves all the credit. I am very happy for him, his wife, and his family back home, and for all those who support him. We are just one step closer. Hopefully, this will continue. I have many things to say, but I am very happy. He deserves everything,” said Suryakumar.

Suryakumar also spoke about the clarity in the dressing room. “I feel everyone bowled according to the plans. We knew 200 was always a good target to chase here because of the dew and the ball coming nicely on the bat. The way the batters responded later with small partnerships was the key.”

Earlier in the tournament, Suryakumar had laughed off suggestions of Samson’s comeback when asked by a journalist. During a press conference, a journalist asked whether Samson should be included in the playing eleven. Suryakumar replied, “Matlab Abhishek ki jagah khilau? (Should I play him instead of Abhishek?)” and “Matlab Tilak ki jagah khilau? (Should I play him instead of Tilak?).”

That reply later came back as India had to bring Samson back into the squad after the loss to South Africa. The Kerala batter responded with a quick cameo against Zimbabwe before playing a historic knock against the West Indies.

Talking about the yesterday's match, Samson smashed a brilliant 97 not out to help India reach the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final. While chasing 196, he remained unbeaten and powered India to victory in one of the finest World Cup run-chases by an Indian batter.

After hitting the winning runs, Samson fell to his knees in an emotional celebration, recognising the importance of the moment and his match-winning performance. He walked back to the dugout to a standing ovation from the crowd, with ‘Vande Mataram’ playing in the background.