199/5 (19.2)
CRR : 10.29
195/4 (20.0)
CRR : 9.75
India won by 5 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Player
97(50)
Sanju Samson (POTM): "(On his wonderful innings) It means the whole world to me. From the day I started playing and dreaming of representing my country, this is the day I was waiting for. I’m very grateful and very thankful. My journey has been very special, with lots of ups and downs. There were times I doubted myself — kept asking, what if, can I make it, can I make it? But I kept believing. Thanks to the Lord Almighty for blessing me today. I’m really happy.
(On his mindset during the knock) That’s why I’ve been playing this format for a very long time. I’ve played in the IPL for around 10 to 12 years, and although I haven’t always been playing regularly for the country over the last 10 years, I’ve been watching from the dugout and learning from greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. It’s very important to observe and learn — to see what they do and how they finish games, how they adapt according to situations. I’ve probably played around 50 or 60 games, but I’ve watched over 100 games closely. Seeing how the best players change their game really helped me.
In the last game, we were batting first, so it was about setting a very high score. That’s why I wanted to go big from ball one. But this game was completely different. As soon as I tried to accelerate, we started losing wickets. So I wanted to build a partnership and stick to my process. I never felt like I was going to do something special. I was just focusing on my role, taking it one ball at a time. I’m very grateful. This is one of the greatest days of my life.
(On crowd's support) The crowd brings a lot of energy and support. But at the same time, there’s always that thought — what if things don’t go well? That can play on your mind. Whenever that thought came, I just brought myself back to the present moment, focused on the ball, and trusted myself to react according to its merit. I think that worked out well today."
(On his mindset during the knock) That’s why I’ve been playing this format for a very long time. I’ve played in the IPL for around 10 to 12 years, and although I haven’t always been playing regularly for the country over the last 10 years, I’ve been watching from the dugout and learning from greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. It’s very important to observe and learn — to see what they do and how they finish games, how they adapt according to situations. I’ve probably played around 50 or 60 games, but I’ve watched over 100 games closely. Seeing how the best players change their game really helped me.
In the last game, we were batting first, so it was about setting a very high score. That’s why I wanted to go big from ball one. But this game was completely different. As soon as I tried to accelerate, we started losing wickets. So I wanted to build a partnership and stick to my process. I never felt like I was going to do something special. I was just focusing on my role, taking it one ball at a time. I’m very grateful. This is one of the greatest days of my life.
(On crowd's support) The crowd brings a lot of energy and support. But at the same time, there’s always that thought — what if things don’t go well? That can play on your mind. Whenever that thought came, I just brought myself back to the present moment, focused on the ball, and trusted myself to react according to its merit. I think that worked out well today."
Indian Wicket-Keepers to win Player of the Match Awards in ICC Tournaments (ODIs+T20Is):
Farokh Engineer vs East Africa, Leeds, 1975 (ODI WC)
MS Dhoni vs Sri Lanka, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2011 (ODI WC)
KL Rahul vs Australia, Chennai, 2023 (ODI WC)
Ishan Kishan vs Pakistan, Colombo (RPS), 2026 (T20 WC)
Sanju Samson vs West Indies, Kolkata, 2026 (T20 WC), Tonight*
Farokh Engineer vs East Africa, Leeds, 1975 (ODI WC)
MS Dhoni vs Sri Lanka, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2011 (ODI WC)
KL Rahul vs Australia, Chennai, 2023 (ODI WC)
Ishan Kishan vs Pakistan, Colombo (RPS), 2026 (T20 WC)
Sanju Samson vs West Indies, Kolkata, 2026 (T20 WC), Tonight*
Shai Hope (West Indies Captain): "(On their score of 195) Maybe it was a little short, especially on a chasing ground like this. We felt that from the position we were in, we probably could have pushed a bit more at the back end. We didn’t start as well as we would have liked with the bat. But getting to 190-plus, the guys gave a good effort with the ball at the back end and fought as hard as we could.
Sanju Samson played a really good innings as well, so you have to give him credit. But I felt that 190-odd was a workable score. If you’re being critical, maybe we could have added a few more at the back end.
(On Jasprit Bumrah) He’s one of their main strike bowlers, and whenever he has the ball in his hand, something is likely to happen. It was really good from their side to break that partnership, especially at that stage when Shimron Hetmyer was going well in the tournament. If he had carried on, he might have gone on to get another big score today. Bumrah is one of their key bowlers, and when he’s called upon, he raises his hand for India. That was one of the crucial moments in the game. But like I said, getting to 190-odd, we still felt we had a chance.
(On his side's bowling in this WC) I thought we were good. Throughout the tournament, we adjusted and adapted to most conditions nicely. We played a lot of games in Mumbai and Kolkata. Credit to the guys, especially in the powerplay — we took a lot of wickets in the preliminary stage. Matthew Forde was excellent with the new ball. Akeal Hosein got wickets at the top as well. The spinners did a great job in the middle overs. Gudakesh Motie was really good when he came back into the team. I thought all our bowlers were on song this tournament, but we just didn’t get over the line today, and unfortunately, we can’t continue in the competition.
(On their campaign ending before semis) We never want to end at this stage. One more win and we’d be in the semis, and then anything can happen in a final. So I must give the guys credit for their effort, but we always want to go all the way. When you enter a tournament, the aim is to win.
We have high standards for ourselves. But we also know the opposition is coming hard at us — you can’t just turn up and expect to win. You have to play good, consistent cricket and capitalise on the key moments. Today, we didn’t do enough to cross the line, and India really wanted it and qualified for the semifinals."
Sanju Samson played a really good innings as well, so you have to give him credit. But I felt that 190-odd was a workable score. If you’re being critical, maybe we could have added a few more at the back end.
(On Jasprit Bumrah) He’s one of their main strike bowlers, and whenever he has the ball in his hand, something is likely to happen. It was really good from their side to break that partnership, especially at that stage when Shimron Hetmyer was going well in the tournament. If he had carried on, he might have gone on to get another big score today. Bumrah is one of their key bowlers, and when he’s called upon, he raises his hand for India. That was one of the crucial moments in the game. But like I said, getting to 190-odd, we still felt we had a chance.
(On his side's bowling in this WC) I thought we were good. Throughout the tournament, we adjusted and adapted to most conditions nicely. We played a lot of games in Mumbai and Kolkata. Credit to the guys, especially in the powerplay — we took a lot of wickets in the preliminary stage. Matthew Forde was excellent with the new ball. Akeal Hosein got wickets at the top as well. The spinners did a great job in the middle overs. Gudakesh Motie was really good when he came back into the team. I thought all our bowlers were on song this tournament, but we just didn’t get over the line today, and unfortunately, we can’t continue in the competition.
(On their campaign ending before semis) We never want to end at this stage. One more win and we’d be in the semis, and then anything can happen in a final. So I must give the guys credit for their effort, but we always want to go all the way. When you enter a tournament, the aim is to win.
We have high standards for ourselves. But we also know the opposition is coming hard at us — you can’t just turn up and expect to win. You have to play good, consistent cricket and capitalise on the key moments. Today, we didn’t do enough to cross the line, and India really wanted it and qualified for the semifinals."
Suryakumar Yadav (India captain): "(Immediate Feelings?) It is a great feeling. As everyone said, it was a "do or die". The way the boys showed character was great to see.
(On Samson) I say it always that good things happen to good people who wait, who have a lot of patience. I said it just now to him (Samson). It is all his hard work, that he has been putting in when he was not playing and he is getting the fruit at the right time.
(On the bowling) Everyone bowled according to the plans. We knew that 200 is always a good score to chase here at the Eden, with dew and the way the wicket becomes in the second innings. The ball comes onto the bat nicely. I think the way the batters responded with those small-small partnerships to take it deep was crucial.
(On the semifinal clash) Very happy to be at that spot. The way we played from Day 1, I think we deserved thar spot. Good to be playing in Mumbai too. But we will not think about it just yet. We will sit back, relax and take the flight tomorrow and then, think of it.
(On expectations of the fan base) Expectation will always be there. But it is about doing what you need to do on the field. When a game like this comes, you have to be courageous. You have to take the positive step and I think we did that.
(Is pressure a privilege?) Without pressure there is no fun. There will be pressure but how you take it is more important.
(On Samson) I say it always that good things happen to good people who wait, who have a lot of patience. I said it just now to him (Samson). It is all his hard work, that he has been putting in when he was not playing and he is getting the fruit at the right time.
(On the bowling) Everyone bowled according to the plans. We knew that 200 is always a good score to chase here at the Eden, with dew and the way the wicket becomes in the second innings. The ball comes onto the bat nicely. I think the way the batters responded with those small-small partnerships to take it deep was crucial.
(On the semifinal clash) Very happy to be at that spot. The way we played from Day 1, I think we deserved thar spot. Good to be playing in Mumbai too. But we will not think about it just yet. We will sit back, relax and take the flight tomorrow and then, think of it.
(On expectations of the fan base) Expectation will always be there. But it is about doing what you need to do on the field. When a game like this comes, you have to be courageous. You have to take the positive step and I think we did that.
(Is pressure a privilege?) Without pressure there is no fun. There will be pressure but how you take it is more important.
Highest Successful Run Chases in T20 WCs:
230/8 by England vs South Africa, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2016 (T-230)
208/2 by South Africa vs West Indies, Johannesburg, 2007 (T-206)
199/5 by India vs West Indies, Kolkata, 2026 (T-196), Tonight*
197/3 by USA vs Canada, Dallas, 2024 (T-195)
197/7 by Australia vs Pakistan, Gros Islet, 2010 (T-192)
196/3 by West Indies vs India, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2016 (T-193)
230/8 by England vs South Africa, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2016 (T-230)
208/2 by South Africa vs West Indies, Johannesburg, 2007 (T-206)
199/5 by India vs West Indies, Kolkata, 2026 (T-196), Tonight*
197/3 by USA vs Canada, Dallas, 2024 (T-195)
197/7 by Australia vs Pakistan, Gros Islet, 2010 (T-192)
196/3 by West Indies vs India, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2016 (T-193)
Most Times Qualified for Semi-Finals in T20 WCs:
6 - Pakistan (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2022)
6 - India (2007, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2024, 2026*)
6 - England (2010, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2026*)
6 - Pakistan (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2022)
6 - India (2007, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2024, 2026*)
6 - England (2010, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2026*)
Most Boundaries (4s+6s) Hit by an Indian Batter in a T20 WC Match:
16 – Sanju Samson (97*) vs West Indies, Kolkata, 2026, Tonight*
15 – Rohit Sharma (92) vs Australia, Gros Islet, 2024
14 – Suryakumar Yadav (84*) vs USA, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026
14 – Suresh Raina (101) vs South Africa, Gros Islet, 2010
16 – Sanju Samson (97*) vs West Indies, Kolkata, 2026, Tonight*
15 – Rohit Sharma (92) vs Australia, Gros Islet, 2024
14 – Suryakumar Yadav (84*) vs USA, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026
14 – Suresh Raina (101) vs South Africa, Gros Islet, 2010
The climax of Sanju Samson's biopic was perhaps written tonight. A match that the wicket-keeper batter might be telling his grandchildren about one day. He helped India complete their highest successful chase ever in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and book a semifinal berth.
Once again, like the previous two editions of the tournament, the Men in Blue will face off against England in the semifinal. In 2022, it were the latter who won that contest and lifted the trophy, in 2024 it was Rohit Sharma and his men. Who will it be this time? Brook's brigade or Suryakumar's troops? We will find out together on March 5.
Before that, South Africa and New Zealand will lock horns at the same venue on March 4 in the other semifinal. Like always will be there to call it.
For now, this is Darpan Tikiya signing off on the behalf of AkshyaKrishna Polya, Mohammad Anab, Paras Yadav and Aman. We hope you enjoyed the coverage as much as we did bringing it to you. Keep following CREX for more cricketing action from around the world. Sayonara!
Once again, like the previous two editions of the tournament, the Men in Blue will face off against England in the semifinal. In 2022, it were the latter who won that contest and lifted the trophy, in 2024 it was Rohit Sharma and his men. Who will it be this time? Brook's brigade or Suryakumar's troops? We will find out together on March 5.
Before that, South Africa and New Zealand will lock horns at the same venue on March 4 in the other semifinal. Like always will be there to call it.
For now, this is Darpan Tikiya signing off on the behalf of AkshyaKrishna Polya, Mohammad Anab, Paras Yadav and Aman. We hope you enjoyed the coverage as much as we did bringing it to you. Keep following CREX for more cricketing action from around the world. Sayonara!