India looked to be in trouble while chasing 196 against West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match in Kolkata. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan fell cheaply, putting pressure on the rest of the line-up, but Sanju Samson took charge and flipped the entire script.
Sanju Samson takes India to the semi-finals of the 2026 T20 World Cup
The Kerala star hit an unbeaten 97 off just 50 balls. He reached his fifty in just 26 balls and built a strong 50-run stand with captain Suryakumar Yadav and steadied the chase against West Indies. Once settled, the right-handed batsman attacked bowlers all over the ground as India defeated the West Indies by five wickets to reach the semi-finals.
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With this blow, Samson broke a huge record. He went past Virat Kohli for the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase. After this masterclass, many are now calling the Indian wicketkeeper the new Kohli. Notably, it was only his third appearance in the ongoing tournament.
Greats from India and Pakistan salute Samson for his heroic deeds
After his historic knock in the Super 8 match against West Indies, congratulations poured in for Sanju Samson from the cricket fraternity to Mollywood celebrities. Pakistani legends Wasim Akram, Mohammad Yousaf, Mohammad Amir and Ahmed Shehzad have applauded Sanju’s fearless batting.
Mohammad Yousaf posted
On the other hand, Indian legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh also praised Samson for his memorable efforts under pressure in Kolkata. Even the film world joined in the celebration. Malayalam superstars Mohanlal, Mammootty, Tovino Thomas, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Dulquer Salmaan cheered loudly for their Kerala hero on social media.
Also read: “Rulayega kya pagle”: Sanju Samson stops Suryakumar Yadav from complimenting him
This is how cricket legends and movie stars praise Samson on X:
#Sanju Samson replacing Kohli highlights the strength of Indian cricket infrastructure and the depth built by a robust system. No dabbling, just pure technical skill applied with aggression and intent. #INDvsWi
— Mohammed Yousaf (@yousaf1788) March 1, 2026
Not many chances this #WorldCupbut when it mattered, Sanju stood tall and played the innings of his life 👏🏻 That’s the mentality of a champion! Stay ready, stay patient and never stop believing! Proud of you @IamSanjuSamson! The spirit of never giving up always wins!…
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) March 1, 2026
Semi-final place on the line, and the boys handled this beautifully!
Handling the last overs well in both innings gave us an edge. Sanju Samson’s calm presence at the crease was great to watch. That kind of presence lifts one way.
Brilliant effort from everyone. On to the… https://t.co/Y5874i9v2d
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 1, 2026
Well played, guys! 🙌 Clinical performance, unstoppable spirit and a true champion mentality are on display. One step closer to glory: let’s bring it home! 💙🏏
Pure dominance of @IamSanjuSamson 🔥#TeamIndia 🇮🇳 #WorldCup #Semifinals
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) March 1, 2026
Today @IamSanjuSamson made us all proud. Critical breakthroughs @Jaspritbumrah93 also helped Team India. Congratulations #MenInBlue for the wonderful victory. Our hearts stopped several times during the match, but all is well and it ends well. Thank goodness for that #TeamIndia. Best…
— Harbhajan Turban (@harbhajan_singh) March 1, 2026
A composed and clinical chase from Team India to seal a spot in the semi-finals.
A clutch knock from @IamSanjuSamsonanchoring the chase with conviction and clarity. Chasing 196 showed the belief and character that this Indian team carries🇮🇳
This victory will give them a lot of confidence…
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) March 1, 2026
🚨 HUGE STATEMENT FROM WASIM AKRAM ON SANJU SAMSON 🚨
Wasim Akram said 🗣️
“I knew India would go to the semi-finals and would almost certainly play the final, but I don’t understand why Sanju Samson didn’t get a chance in the first few matches. The 97 he scored today… pic.twitter.com/2sd0EiEWkM
— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) March 2, 2026
🚨 Pakistani cricketers stunned by Sanju Samson
Mohammad Amir: “I see the reflection of Rohit Sharma in Sanju Samson.”
Ahmed Shehzad: “There is so much competition in India that Sanju had to sit on the bench despite scoring two centuries in South Africa. But today he was brilliant, something like that… pic.twitter.com/z78owy5rkA
— Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) March 2, 2026
The best innings of his career considering the match situation. The maturity he showed throughout was outstanding.
A top class match-winning knockout from Sanju Samson. 👏— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 1, 2026
THE KERALA STORY: Sanju Samson takes India to the semi-finals.
— CS Amudhan (@csamudhan) March 1, 2026
What a blow @IamSanjuSamson
Pure class. Pure dominance. A fearless statement on the biggest stage.Congratulations to the Indian cricket team for marching to the #T20World Cup 2026 Semi-final. pic.twitter.com/j8Di5hYY7C
— Mammootty (@mammukka) March 1, 2026
Exciting to watch @IamSanjuSamson in such sublime shape! A truly masterful collection that speaks volumes about his character and talent. Heartfelt congratulations to the entire Indian team for storming the #T20World Cup 2026 Semi-finals. Keep the flag high! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/jLMYCQSOWc
— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) March 1, 2026
History almost repeats itself in T20 World Cup 2026, but India turned the story around
In 2016, the West Indian cricket team broke India’s hearts in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup. They chased 193 in the final and knocked India out of the tournament. Indian fans have never forgotten that painful night. Now, ten years later, the situation was very similar.
India needed to chase down 196 to stay alive in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The pressure was on and the memories of 2016 were fresh in their minds, but this time the story changed. The Men in Blue kept their cool and played smart cricket and completed the job and secured a place in the semi-finals.
#Sanju #Samson #Virat #Kohli #Legends #India #Pakistan #impressed #T20 #World #Cup #masterclass