![Sanju Samson over the moon after heroics vs West Indies [Source: @vishalcricket0/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1772389142502_sanjusamson.jpg?type=hq)
Sanju Samson over the moon after heroics vs West Indies [Source: @vishalcricket0/X.com]
Indian opener Sanju Samson swept world cricket off its feet with a magical innings of 97 off 50 balls against the West Indies in a must-win Super 8 game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
From ball one, Samson was in control, and despite losing partners on the other end, he stayed till the last ball and hit the winning runs for his team. Undoubtedly, the opener was emotional and poured his heart out after India’s 5-wicket victory.
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Sanju Samson opens up after emotional POTM performance
For his sensational knock of 97* off 50 balls, including 12 fours and 4 sixes, Sanju Samson was awarded the Player of the Match award. While accepting the award, the opener got emotional and recalled his struggling phase.
“It means the whole world to me. From the day I started playing and dreaming of representing my country, this is the day I was waiting for. I’m very grateful and very thankful. My journey has been very special, with lots of ups and downs. There were times I doubted myself — kept asking, what if, can I make it, can I make it? But I kept believing. Thanks to the Lord Almighty for blessing me today. I’m really happy,” Samson said.
Reflecting on his journey, Samson spoke about the self-doubt, the long spells on the sidelines, and the lessons learned from watching stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the dugout.
“That’s why I’ve been playing this format for a very long time. I’ve played in the IPL for around 10 to 12 years, and although I haven’t always been playing regularly for the country over the last 10 years, I’ve been watching from the dugout and learning from greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. It’s very important to observe and learn — to see what they do and how they finish games, how they adapt according to situations. I’ve probably played around 50 or 60 games, but I’ve watched over 100 games closely. Seeing how the best players change their game really helped me,” he added.
Samson reveals his approach in a tricky chase
On his approach, Sanju revealed how the match situation shaped his tempo. After early wickets fell during his attempt to accelerate, he chose to trust his process, build partnerships, and take it one ball at a time.
“In the last game, we were batting first, so it was about setting a very high score. That’s why I wanted to go big from ball one. But this game was completely different. As soon as I tried to accelerate, we started losing wickets. So I wanted to build a partnership and stick to my process. I never felt like I was going to do something special. I was just focusing on my role, taking it one ball at a time. I’m very grateful. This is one of the greatest days of my life.”
Calling it one of the greatest days of his life, Sanju Samson also acknowledged the crowd’s energy, saying their support fuels him even amid pressure.
“The crowd brings a lot of energy and support. But at the same time, there’s always that thought — what if things don’t go well? That can play on your mind. Whenever that thought came, I just brought myself back to the present moment, focused on the ball, and trusted myself to react according to its merit. I think that worked out well today."
India advance into the semi-final
Sanju Samson hit the winning runs to guide India to the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. With that win, India climbed to the second spot in the Group 1 table with four points.
West Indies and Zimbabwe stand eliminated, as South Africa had earlier qualified for the knockouts with an unbeaten Super 8 campaign.
South Africa and New Zealand will compete in the first semi-final on March 4 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Meanwhile, the second semi-final between India and England will be held on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
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