Brief Score: India (199/5 in 19.2 overs) beat West Indies (195/4 in 20 overs) by 5 wickets in Kolkata in a Super 8 match.
IND vs WI T20 WORLD CUP 2026: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was elated after Sanju Samson produced a master-class performance against West Indies to lead India to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. On Sunday, March 1, Samson smashed 97 off 50 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes. India secured a five-wicket win at the iconic Eden Gardens in Calcutta.
Tharoor has long been one of Samson’s most vocal supporters, often supporting the Kerala batter on social media during phases of selection setbacks and limited opportunities. After the winning tap, as the nation celebrated India’s victory, Tharoor’s joy was especially evident.
He praised Samson’s resilience and redemption, highlighting the batsman’s perseverance in difficult phases and describing the innings as a confirmation of the faith he has consistently shown in his talent over the years.
Tharoor wrote: “Proud and relieved for @IamSanjuSamson after his brilliant innings in today’s virtual quarter final against WestIndies. I was rooting for him as earlier failures made him lose his place in the side. Today he showed the world why he deserved to be there in the first place. Proud of Thiruvananthapuram, a native son of India.”
BISHOP, TENDULKAR IN AWESOME BEFORE SAMSON
Former West Indies cricketer and renowned commentator Ian Bishop praised Samson with the words “Respect the Name”, an echo of the iconic “Remember the Name” call he made to Carlos Brathwaite, who had led West Indies to World T20 triumph at the same venue in Kolkata a decade ago.
Bishop wrote: “Respect the name: Sanju Samson!!!”
Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar said he was impressed with the composure displayed by Samson during the thrilling chase.
Tendulkar wrote: “Semi-final place on the line and the boys have done it brilliantly! Well managed final overs in both innings gave us the edge. Sanju Samson’s calm presence at the crease was amazing to watch. That kind of presence lifts the side. Brilliant effort by all. We’re on to the semis.”
Indian actor Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail, also known as Mammootty, also praised Samson.
Mammootty wrote: “That’s great @IamSanjuSamson. Pure class. Pure dominance. A fearless statement on the biggest stage. Congratulations to the Indian cricket team for reaching the semi-finals of the #T20WorldCup2026.”
SAMSON LIGHTS UP KOLKATA
Samson produced a career-defining innings to steer India past the West Indies in a high-pressure clash for the Super 8. With India struggling at 41 for 2 after early setbacks, the chase looked daunting. Samson held firm, showing poise and control to anchor the innings brilliantly. He controlled the pace expertly, ensuring that the required speed was never out of reach.
His vital partnership with Suryakumar Yadav stabilized the chase while timely contributions from Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube kept the momentum intact. With seven to go in the final over, Samson finished in style, smashing Romario Shepherd for a six before booting the winning runs at mid-off.
India completed their highest successful chase in T20 World Cup history and highest ever T20I chase at the Eden Gardens. The win also served as redemption for their 2016 semi-final loss to the West Indies, marking a record-breaking turnaround on the historic stage.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
02 Mar 2026 0:18 IST
