IND vs WI T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson Fires India Into Semi-Finals With Unbeaten 97 as West Indies Bow Out at Eden Gardens
India beat West Indies by five wickets at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday, March 1, 2026, in a do-or-die ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash. Sanju Samson's breathtaking unbeaten 97 off 50 balls powered India's chase of 196, sending the defending champions into the semi-finals with four balls to spare.
India vs West Indies T20 2026: West Indies Post 195/4 on a Flat Eden Gardens Surface
West Indies posted a competitive 195 for four, riding on contributions from Roston Chase (40), Shai Hope (32), Jason Holder (37 not out), and Rovman Powell (34 not out). The innings was built on a confident start at the top. West Indies were 45/0 after six overs, with Abhishek Sharma dropping a straightforward chance to give Roston Chase extra life early in the match. Jasprit Bumrah turned the tide in the middle overs with a devastating double-strike. Bumrah dismissed the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer and then got Roston Chase to miscue one caught at covers by captain Suryakumar Yadav, tilting the contest back in India's favour.
Rovman Powell and Jason Holder Power West Indies Late Surge
The back end of the West Indies innings belonged to the power hitters. Rovman Powell became the first West Indies player to hit 150 sixes in T20Is during this match, going past Nicholas Pooran's record of 149 and becoming one of only a handful of players to reach that milestone in international cricket. Hardik Pandya bore the brunt of the West Indies assault. Pandya had a difficult night with the ball, going for 34 runs in his first three overs, and Varun Chakravarthy conceded 14 in the 16th over with Powell dominating. West Indies were back firmly into the contest thanks to some magnificent hitting from Powell and Holder, with Arshdeep Singh going for 24 in a costly over late in the innings.
Sanju Samson's Chasing Masterclass Floors West Indies Cricket Team
India's reply in the IND vs WI T20 encounter was anchored entirely around one man. Sanju Samson produced a chasing masterclass, hammering 12 fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 97 to floor the West Indies cricket team and guide India home. The powerplay offered early turbulence for India's chase. India were 53/2 after six overs having lost Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma, but Samson looked in excellent touch and Suryakumar Yadav was giving him as much of the strike as possible. India had reached 101/3 at the halfway mark before Suryakumar was dismissed, but Samson refused to relent.
Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya Support Cast in India Cricket's Crucial Win
While Samson held the innings together, Suryakumar Yadav played a perfect supporting role as captain. Suryakumar Yadav played a perfect foil to Samson in the middle phase, ensuring maximum strike was rotated to the in-form wicket-keeper batter while India kept pace with the required run rate. Akeal Hosein and the West Indies bowling attack led by Shamar Joseph and Gudakesh Motie gave everything they had but could not remove Samson in the final overs. India chased down the 196-run target in 19.2 overs with five wickets in hand, completing a match-winning performance from start to finish at Eden Gardens.
West Indies T20 World Cup 2026 Campaign Ends Despite Team's Sixes Record
The West Indies cricket team exit the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 despite producing a tournament defined by explosive batting. West Indies hit more sixes than any other side at this T20 World Cup, and India were only three behind them with 63 as of the Super 8 stage, underlining just how attacking both teams had been throughout the tournament. Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, and Akeal Hosein all featured in the playing XI but could not tip the contest West Indies' way in the crucial final moments.
India National Cricket Team Face England in T20 World Cup Semi-Final on March 5
India's victory seals their place in the last four of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The Men in Blue will next take on England in the semi-final stage in Mumbai on March 5. The winner of that semi-final will advance toward the T20 World Cup 2026 final, with India defending champions and England looking to reclaim the title on Indian soil. Coach Gautam Gambhir was seen coming onto the pitch during the drinks break to rally his troops — a sign of the high stakes India were navigating. Sanju Samson's name will dominate India cricket headlines heading into that high-voltage Mumbai showdown.
