New Delhi: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has heaped praise on Sanju Samson after the wicketkeeper batter guided India to a dramatic victory over the West Indies cricket team in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage.
In a high pressure contest in Kolkata that effectively served as a quarterfinal, India chased down a challenging 196 to secure a semifinal berth. The team stumbled early with two quick wickets, but Samson anchored the innings with a commanding unbeaten 97 off 50 deliveries. His knock, studded with 12 boundaries and four sixes, steered India to a five wicket win and earned him the Player of the Match award.
Gavaskar described the innings as a defining moment in Samson’s career, noting that the performance lifted not only the player’s burden but also that of supporters who have long backed his talent. He pointed to the fluctuations in Samson’s journey, saying fans have shared in both his highs and lows and were eager to see him succeed on the big stage.
The veteran added that although Samson fell just three runs short of a century, the impact of the innings remained immense. He suggested that another three figure score could be on the horizon given the confidence this knock would provide.
India will next face the England cricket team in the semifinal in Mumbai. Reflecting on the chase, Gavaskar highlighted the importance of maintaining momentum and minimising dot balls in T20 cricket. He emphasised that having a settled batter at one end allows partners to rotate strike effectively, ensuring the scoreboard keeps moving.
For Samson, the innings marked a powerful response after a lean run of form and reaffirmed his value to the side at a crucial stage of the tournament.
