KOLKATA – In a high-stakes “virtual quarterfinal” that lived up to every bit of the pre-match hype, India secured their spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals with a thrilling five-wicket victory over the West Indies at a raucous Eden Gardens on Sunday night.
The hero of the hour was Sanju Samson, whose breathtaking, unbeaten 97 off 50 balls guided the Men in Blue through a record-breaking run chase. Under the flashing lights of Kolkata, India chased down a formidable target of 196, finishing at 199/5 with four balls to spare.
The Chase: Samson Stands Tall
Chasing 196 in a do-or-die scenario is enough to rattle any side, but Samson looked in a zone of his own. Despite losing opening partner Abhishek Sharma early, Samson anchored the innings with a blend of surgical precision and raw power, smashing 12 fours and 4 sixes.
While middle-order partners like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma (27) provided brief support, the night belonged to the wicketkeeper-batter. His 97* now stands as the highest individual score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup run chase, surpassing legends like Virat Kohli.
“It means the whole world to me,” Samson said after the match, visibly emotional as he was named Player of the Match. “To do this at Eden Gardens, in this atmosphere, is a dream.”
The First Innings: Windies Power vs. Bumrah’s Precision
Earlier in the evening, the West Indies posted a daunting 195/4. The Caribbean side experimented with a new opening pair, as Roston Chase (40) and Shai Hope (32) provided a steady start.
India’s spearhead Jasprit Bumrah once again proved why he is the best in the business, striking twice in a single over to remove both set batters and stall the Windies’ momentum. However, a late-innings blitz from Jason Holder (37)* and Rovman Powell (34)*, who added 76 runs off just 35 balls, ensured the visitors had a total they felt confident defending.
Match Summary
| West Indies – 195/4 (20) | R. Chase (40), J. Holder (37*); J. Bumrah (2/36) |
| India | 199/5 (19.2) | S. Samson (97)*, T. Varma (27); J. Holder (2/38) |
What’s Next: The Road to Mumbai
With this victory, India has officially knocked the West Indies out of the tournament and set up a blockbuster semifinal clash against England. That match is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
In the other semifinal, South Africa—who also won yesterday against Zimbabwe—will face New Zealand on Wednesday.
