Watch: Suryakumar Yadav bows to Sanju Samson’s 97 in IND vs WI T20 World Cup 2026 clash

During the squad selection of the Indian side for the T20 World Cup 2026, there were several questions whether the blue brigade and their selection committee should have gone with Sanju Samson, as that decision saw Shubman Gill not finding a place in the team. But in an evening when India needed him the most, Samson stood like a warrior. 

The Super 8 fixture against West Indies at the Eden Gardens was a virtual quarter-final for the blue brigade, who had to win the game to get their semifinals ticket. The chase of 196 runs could have been tricky had one of the batters not stayed at the crease for a long time, and Sanju Samson did so, and his decision to take a new guard after the fifty was a reflection of the same to happen.

See Also: Watch: Suryakumar Yadav plays Supla shot for six against Jason Holder during IND vs WI T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s

After the end of the game, as the Indian players made their way into the field to shake hands with each other and the opponents, India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, bowed down to Samson’s extra-ordinary knock.

Suryakumar Yadav bows to Sanju Samson after IND vs WI T20 World Cup 2026 clash

Samson remained unbeaten on 97 runs in their victory by five wickets. The right-handed batter smashed 12 boundaries and four sixes at a strike rate of 194, while the other batters, especially Tilak Varma contributed a superb knock towards the end of the game. The southpaw clubbed 27 runs in just 15 balls.

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“I always say, good things happen to good people who wait, who have a lot of patience. I said it just now as well when I met him. But then it's all his hard work, what he's been doing behind the doors when he was not playing, and he's got the fruit of it at the perfect stage.” Sky expressed on Samson in the post-match presentation.

West Indies, under Shai Hope, earlier posted the score of 195/4, thanks to small contributions from their entire batting line-up. Even though they added 70 runs in the last five overs of the game, there were runs left in the middle from their side. 

Brief Scores: IND 199/4 (Sanju Samson 97*, Jason Holder 2/38) beat WI 195/4 (Roston Chase 40, Jasprit Bumrah 2/36) by five-wickets.