Kolkata, 02 March (Sports Desk)
India defeated West Indies by 5 wickets in a thrilling Super Eights match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, played on March 1, 2026, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This was a virtual quarter-final (winner-takes-all) clash, with India chasing down a target of 196 to secure their spot in the semi-finals.
Match Summary
- West Indies innings: 195/4 in 20 overs Key contributors: Roston Chase (40), Jason Holder (37* not out). India’s bowling: Jasprit Bumrah took 2/36, while others kept the scoring in check despite a strong West Indies finish.
- India innings: 199/5 in 19.2 overs (with 4 balls remaining) India chased 196 successfully, marking their highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history. Early setbacks saw India at 41/2, but a masterful performance turned the game.
Player of the Match: Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson was rightfully named Player of the Match for his sensational unbeaten knock of 97 off 50 balls (12 fours and 4 sixes). He anchored the chase, batted through the innings, and finished it dramatically by hitting a six and a four off the first two balls of the final over (bowled by Romario Shepherd or similar pressure situation) to seal the win. This was a record-breaking performance—the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup run chase (surpassing previous marks like Virat Kohli’s). Samson also contributed with 2 catches as wicketkeeper.
In his post-match comments, Samson expressed deep emotion: “It means the whole world to me… this is one of the greatest days of my life.” He credited observing legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for his approach, stayed composed under pressure, and focused ball-by-ball.
watch….Champion India A Seal 46-Run Win in Final – Tejal Hasabnis Player of the Match
Key Moments
- India lost early wickets (including Ishan Kishan), but Samson built partnerships, including with Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma (who scored 27).
- He reached his fifty in 28 balls and accelerated brilliantly in the death overs.
- The Eden Gardens crowd of around 68,000 erupted as Samson dropped to his knees in a private celebration after the winning shot, thanking the almighty.
This victory set up India’s semi-final against England in Mumbai (on Thursday, March 5, 2026, likely at Wankhede Stadium). A fantastic display of batting under pressure from Samson, helping defending champions India advance! 🇮🇳🏏
