At one point, India ran into trouble during the chase around the 11th over. However, Samson anchored the innings brilliantly and remained unbeaten with 97 off just 50 deliveries. His knock, which included 12 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 194, ensured there were no late hiccups as India crossed the line in four balls.
As the team traveled to Mumbai for the semi-final, Axar, who serves as India’s vice-captain, cheekily asked Samson if he felt relieved after the sensational performance and how he was feeling. While praising the wicketkeeper-batsman for his match-winning effort, Axar ended with a humorous remark that made Samson smile and Suryakumar Yadav burst into laughter next to him.
“Chetta, finally. Kab debut hua tha? (Brother, finally. When did you make your debut?),” Axar asked on Snapchat.
Samson made his T20I debut in 2015 against Zimbabwe but despite being in the international circuit for over a decade, he has struggled to establish himself in India’s shortest line-up. In 60 T20Is, he has shown flashes of brilliance, including three centuries, yet a defining performance on a global stage has been long awaited.
That moment finally arrived during the 2026 T20 World Cup, where Samson delivered a match-winning 97* in a crucial chase. In the process, the wicketkeeper-batsman etched his name in the record books by surpassing Virat Kohli’s record for the highest individual score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase. Kohli previously held the record with two iconic knocks of 82, against Australia in 2016 and Pakistan in 2022.
Samson’s unbeaten 97 is now the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase and is the second highest individual score for India in the history of the tournament. The only higher score remains Suresh Raina’s 101 against South Africa in 2010.
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