In the packed Garden of Eden, India Kept their cool to lose in a high-scoring thriller west indies Defeated by five wickets in Super 8 Group 1 match ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Chasing the challenging score of 196 runs, the Men in Blue scored a brilliant score of 97 runs. sanju samson Won the competition with four balls remaining and entered the semi-finals.
West Indies scored 195 runs after late lead
After India won the toss and decided to bowl, West Indies took full advantage of the favorable batting conditions. shy hope Whereas, took the innings forward with a steady innings of 32 runs in 33 balls. Roston Chase Provided the momentum by scoring a quick 40 runs in just 25 balls including five fours and a six. Shimron Hetmyer provided the early fireworks with 27 runs from 12 balls. rovman powell Important 34 out of 19 added.
The real push came in the death overs, where jason holder Played a captain’s innings. His unbeaten inning of 37 runs with the help of three sky-high sixes in 22 balls took West Indies to a strong score of 195/4 in 20 overs.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah Was a standout performer with figures of 2/36, dismissing key batsmen at crucial moments. hardik pandya And Varun Chakraborty took one wicket each, but Arshdeep Singh And Akshar Patel Proved to be a bit expensive on flat tracks.
Sanju Samson’s masterclass lights up Kolkata
Chasing 196 runs under pressure, India got off to a bad start Abhishek Sharma Left for 10. However, what happened next was pure class from Samson. The stylish right-handed batsman played one of the best innings of the tournament, scoring 97 runs in just 50 balls. His innings included 12 fours and four sixes, as he navigated the gaps with ease and punished any little thing.
Ishan Kishan And Suryakumar Yadav But they couldn’t convert their starts into goals Tilak VermaAn aggressive innings of 27 runs in 15 balls kept India ahead at the required rate. Whereas Pandya contributed 17 runs Shivam DubeyA quickfire inning of 10 runs in 4 balls brought the equation down dramatically. With nerves looming during the final overs, Samson held firm before falling short of his century. Nevertheless, India crossed the score of 199/5 in 19.2 overs, leading to celebrations throughout the stadium.
Holder (2/38) and Shamar Joseph (2/44) Kept hitting every now and then to keep the contest alive. Akil Hossein Also took a wicket, but the target proved out of reach as Samson’s brilliance overshadowed his efforts. With this five-wicket win, India confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026. The chase demonstrated his depth, composure and big-match temperament.
Here’s how fans reacted
Respect the name: Sanju Samson!!!
– Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) 1 March 2026
India vs England in semi-finals #Mumbai ..it doesn’t get any better.. #ICCMensT20WorldCup .. India performed very impressive with the bat against West Indies .. They are still the team to beat in this tournament .. 👍
– Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) 1 March 2026
Today @IamSanjuSamson Has made us all proud. significant successes by @Jaspritbumrah93 Also helped Team India. Congratulations #meninblue For a wonderful victory. Our hearts skipped a beat several times throughout the match but all’s well that ends well. happy for #TeamIndia. Best…
-Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) 1 March 2026
If we ever need reminding, #sanjusamson Reminded us that you never leave the classroom. He is a very special cricketer but his quality today lies in his maturity, ultimately in the responsibility to stick with
– Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) 1 March 2026
Well played, boys! 🙌 Clinical performance, unstoppable spirit, and the mentality of a true champion on display. One step towards glory – let’s bring it home! 💙🏏
pure dominance from @IamSanjuSamson 🔥#TeamIndia 🇮🇳 #worldcup #semifinal
– Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) 1 March 2026
Hey, I saw it 🥺 pic.twitter.com/xcOPy7uP9U
– Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) 1 March 2026
Move aside, Sanju Bhai is on a mission today! 😌#INDvWI pic.twitter.com/E4lM0JdfAk
– Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) 1 March 2026
Top Gear, Sanju 🙌🏽
The noise of the election was loud, but his reaction was swift… even though he delivered the speech quietly and without showing his emotions. He found peace amidst pressure and expectation. He becomes as steady head, effortless balance and as pure as time. what one…– Saiami Kher (@saiamikher) 1 March 2026
A must win game. Enter Sanju Samson 🤌🔥 pic.twitter.com/JAY63sYoWM
– KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) 1 March 2026
This is one of the best run chases under pressure, Sanju you are beautiful #INDvsWI
– Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) 1 March 2026
Must win game
Chetan in full flow 🔥🦁
5️⃣0️⃣* #whistlepoddu #T20WorldCup– Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) 1 March 2026
Knock of maturity 🫡
Excellent innings under extreme pressure 🙌#INDvWI #sanjusamson #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Q1biIYVBX6– Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) 1 March 2026
Player of the match: Sanju Samson 🔥#Cricket #INDvWI #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/CfSJ1OJAmg
– CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) 1 March 2026
No promotion. no PR. Just pure class. 👑
Sanju Samson plays the game with grace, grit and fearless intent.
Knocked down, doubted, yet never broken.If you believe that talent trumps noise,
You are already a fan of Sanju. 💙#sanjusamson pic.twitter.com/GIR4JNt2nE– Pratik S Patil (@Liberal_India1) 1 March 2026
Sanju Samson is the best player for India in a do-or-die match. The focus is never on him but he proves to be a game-changer.
– Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) 1 March 2026
Sanju Samson has played many innings which have often been ignored. Today is the day to stamp his class and play an innings that no one will ever forget. He’s got a head start too, count on that. #INDvsWI
– Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) 1 March 2026
When it matters most, Sanju Samson is playing the innings of his life for India in the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav…played 4 T20 World Cups and 1 ODI World Cup…India is still waiting for a moment to trust you on the big stage.-Dheeraj Singh (@Dheerajsingh_) 1 March 2026
Not a single shot in the air from 12th to 19th over
Low risk boundaries, controlled batting from Sanju Samson.Proper stalking masterclass.
– Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) 1 March 2026
The time has come, Sanju Samson has come! 🫡
9⃣7⃣*(50) – A knock to remember for the ages #TeamIndia In the semi-finals👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ur4pr8Bi3K#T20WorldCup | #meninblue | #INDvWI | @IamSanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/ftJRp2wMTE
– BCCI (@BCCI) 1 March 2026
Stand up and salute Sanju Samson.🫡 pic.twitter.com/SAAHWUaTYB
– Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) 1 March 2026
