India vs West Indies T20 World Cup 2026: Riding on Sanju Samson’s 97*, IND qualify for semis with 5-wicket win
India vs West Indies: Sanju Samson scored an unbeaten 97 off just 50 balls to drag India to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a five-wicket victory over West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. The opener had scored his half century in just 26 balls, and stitched a 50-run partnership with India captain Suryakumar Yadav, right after they had lost Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan early in a chase of 196.
On Sunday, Samson set the highest score by an Indian batter in a chase in the T20 World Cup, going past Virat Kohli’s twin scores of 82 runs (against Australia and Pakistan).
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Earlier, cameos from Roston Chase, Rovman Powell and Jason Holder had taken West Indies to 195/5 in 20 overs after India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first against Shai Hope’s West Indies in the final game of the Super 8 in the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The winner of the game will qualify for the semifinals of the competition.
India has thrashed Zimbabwe in their previous game and has come back into some sort of form after losing to South Africa last Sunday in Ahmedabad. The batting has stuck in form again as the power-hitters showed their prowess at Chepauk. Meanwhile, the bowling still needs boxes to tick. The bowling in the middle overs was a bit of concern for the hosts.
As per the West Indies, they too have been in fine form in this tournament and have happy memories at this venue in Kolkata, where they managed to win the T20 World Cup. They too have a lot of power in their batting order, but it is the bowling attack that needs a bit of upgradation, as South chasing 178 runs looked in no discomfort in the West Indies’ previous game.
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Match EndedICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026 – Super 8 – Match 12
India
199/5 (19.2)
vs
West Indies
195/4 (20.0)
Match Ended ( Super 8 – Match 12 )
India beat West Indies by 5 wickets
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Why captain Suryakumar Yadav’s legacy remains undefined and complex despite being India’s most succesful T20I skipper
India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav in action during T20 World Cup 2026. (PHOTO: AP)
Suryakumar Yadav as a transformative T20 batting legend whose leadership legacy remains an enigma due to his highly curated and “manufactured” persona. Unlike his predecessors whose captaincy mirrored their natural personalities, Surya has constructed a “brave new world” of unbridled aggression shielded by a mask of surreal calm, spiritual-like stoicism in defeat, and a refusal to publicly blame his players. This complex style—marked by forced humor, a constant smile even in crises, and flashes of unapologetic defiance—suggests a leader who acts as a deliberate psychological shock absorber for his team, even if his true intentions remain tucked behind a carefully maintained front. (Read more from Sandip G)