West Indies piled up 195 on Sunday, putting India under immense pressure after opting to bowl first at Eden Gardens. With a fragile chasing record in T20 World Cups and no Virat Kohli in the XI, the task looked daunting from the outset.
India had never chased more than 160 in a T20 World Cup without Kohli, and their last successful pursuit of a 170-plus target in the tournament came 12 years ago. The weight of history loomed large in what was effectively a virtual quarter-final.
The chase began nervously. Abhishek Sharma fell for 10, followed soon by Ishan Kishan for the same score. At 41 for 2 inside the powerplay, tension gripped the nearly 60,000 spectators at Eden Gardens. The early setbacks deepened the sense of unease.
But India still had Sanju Samson.
Samson produced an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls, steering India to a record chase and surpassing Kohli’s previous highest score of 82 in a T20 World Cup chase for India. He anchored the innings with composure, blending caution with calculated aggression.
Suryakumar Yadav provided crucial support in a 58-run partnership that stabilised the innings. Tilak Varma added momentum with 27 off 15 balls, while Hardik Pandya contributed a steady 17 from 14 deliveries. Shivam Dube applied the finishing touches with an unbeaten 8 at a strike rate of 200.
Though contributions came from across the lineup, the night belonged to Samson. He paced the innings meticulously, absorbing pressure when needed and accelerating at the right moments. With 12 boundaries and four sixes, he ensured the required rate remained within reach and consistently shifted pressure back onto the West Indies bowlers.
A telling moment came after he reached his half-century. Instead of celebrating, Samson calmly reset his guard, marking his crease with quiet focus. It was a gesture that reflected his determination to see the chase through.
As the target drew near, Samson remained composed. In the final over, he lofted a decisive shot over the infield to seal the win, finishing unbeaten on 97. India completed the chase in 19.2 overs, securing a significant victory and booking a place in the semi-finals.
They will now face England in the second semi-final in Mumbai on March 5, a day after South Africa meet New Zealand in Kolkata.
Earlier, India’s decision to bowl first had appeared risky. They had successfully chased 150-plus totals only four times in T20 World Cup history, each time with Kohli playing a central role. No target above 159 had ever been chased in a T20 International in Kolkata.
West Indies began steadily after being asked to bat. Shai Hope and Roston Chase opened, with Chase taking on the role for the first time in his T20 International career. Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya shared the new ball, finding some early movement, but West Indies closed the powerplay at 45 without loss.
Varun Chakravarthy provided the first breakthrough, dismissing Hope. However, Shimron Hetmyer counterattacked aggressively, striking 25 off just 10 balls and setting a new tournament record with his 18th six. West Indies surged to 99 for 1 after 11 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav then turned to Jasprit Bumrah. The move proved decisive. Bumrah dismissed Hetmyer with a sharp delivery that crashed into the stumps and followed it up by removing the well-set Chase with a deceptive slower ball. In a single over, he shifted the momentum back towards India.
Despite that spell, West Indies managed to post 195. Yet on a night defined by pressure and expectation, Sanju Samson’s measured brilliance ensured India rewrote history and kept their campaign alive.
