Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised Team India opener Sanju Samson for his incredible knock against the West Indies in the final T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight game in Kolkata on March 1. With a semifinal qualification on the line, the Men in Blue were chasing a challenging total of 196 to win.
However, Samson displayed nerves of steel from the word go, scoring a match-winning 97* off 50 deliveries. The right-hander smashed 12 boundaries and four maximums in his innings that lasted from ball one till the end.
Talking about Samson’s heroics after the game, Vaughan said on Cricbuzz (2:00):
“I never felt there was a stage where he wasn’t in control. He never had to get into the fifth or sixth gear. He has chased that down probably in the third or fourth gear maximum. That was a beautifully timed and calm innings. I love players who are there at the end, even when they can get out, having to take risks in the end. Shaking the opposition’s hands having won the game, there is no better feeling as a batter.”
He added:
“The pitch also helped as the one in Kolkata was perfect for strokeplay. Just keep your shape and play your strokes, that’s what he did. You look at the pitches in Sri Lanka, you could not have played that kind of innings. When you get on a pitch that comes on nicely, just hold your shape and open the blade.”
Samson’s 97 was the second-highest score by an Indian batter in a T20 World Cup, helping the side qualify for the semifinal.
“It doesn’t all have to be unorthodox cricket” – Rohan Gavaskar on Sanju Samson’s knock
Former Indian batter Rohan Gavaskar praised Sanju Samson for his ability to play conventional shots in his sparkling knock against the West Indies. The 31-year-old scored most of his runs in the cricketing ‘V’ with no unorthodox shots yet boasted a strike rate of almost 200.
“We know what he is capable of, having seen it over the years. When he wasn’t picked for India, you could hear all the overseas players who have played with him ask how this kid isn’t playing for India. Most of his runs coming in the V shows that it doesn’t all have to be unorthodox cricket,” said Gavaskar (via the aforementioned source).
He added:
“While we love the 360-degree players, there is also space for players of Sanju’s ability and skill set. He could now win India the semifinal and final too in this form. While he was there, he brought a sense of calm to the proceedings and the Indian fans.”
Samson had played in only two out of India’s six matches in the tournament before the West Indian encounter. Meanwhile, Team India will take on England in the second semifinal in Mumbai on March 5.
Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran