Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir talked about the importance of teamwork after the win over West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026. Gambhir said Shivam Dubey’s two fours were as valuable as Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97, adding that even a small contribution can be as decisive as a big innings.
India reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup after a five-wicket win over West Indies. Chasing the target of 196 runs, Samson scored unbeaten 97 runs in 50 balls, which included 12 fours and four sixes. The 31-year-old won the Player of the Match award for his composed and aggressive innings.
For many years we have been talking about some of the contributions – Gautam Gambhir’s indirect dig at Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
During the post-match press conference, Gautam Gambhir acknowledged Sanju Samson’s innings, but said that the match could not have been won without small efforts, especially two crucial boundaries from Shivam Dubey.
Gautam Gambhir said in the post-match press conference, “For many years we have been talking about certain contributions. I think those two boundaries of Shivam were as important as Sanju’s 95 (97*). This is a team game and it will always be a team game. So, those two boundaries are as important as Sanju’s innings. If we had not performed well tonight, we would not be talking about Sanju.”
“Yes, he played a special innings, but those small contributions help you win the game. Big contributions make headlines, small contributions, contributions that can help the team win are very important. So I say that will be the philosophy as long as I am here,” Gautam Gambhir said.
Shivam Dubey’s boundaries ease the pressure as Sanju Samson performs brilliantly
In the 19th over, Hardik Pandya was out on the bowling of Shamar Joseph after scoring 17 runs in 14 balls. At that time, India still needed 17 runs from 10 balls and the pressure was on Sanju Samson, who was batting while chasing the target.
After this Shivam Dubey turned the momentum in favor of India. The left-handed batsman attacked from the first ball, promptly hit a boundary and then hit the fence again on the final delivery of the over. Those two shots changed the equation quickly.
India needed only seven runs in the last over. Samson completed the job brilliantly by hitting a six and a four. While Samson’s unbeaten innings grabbed the headlines, Dubey’s cameo played a decisive role in India’s victory during a high-pressure game.
India will face England in the semi-finals at Wankhede.
Gautam Gambhir’s India will face England in the second semi-final on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The Men in Blue are just two wins away from becoming the first team to defend the T20 World Cup title on home soil.
Both sides have met in the semi-finals of the last two editions. England defeated India by 10 wickets in Adelaide in 2022, before India bounced back with a 68-run win in Guyana in 2024.
England remain a formidable challenge, as captain Harry Brook, all-rounder Will Jacks and their bowling unit have performed consistently well to take the team to the last four. The winner of this competition will advance to the final, where South Africa or New Zealand will wait.
Also read: Days after making fun of Sanju Samson in the press conference, Suryakumar Yadav bowed to him.