The star wicketkeeper-batter of India Sanju Samson led the team to the semi-finals of the ICC Men T20 world cup. In a match that was practically a quarter-final against West Indies where Chasing 196 had to go, the difference-maker was the unconquered 97 of Samson, off 50 balls. India captain Suryakumar Yadav took off his cap and bowed his match-winner as he passed by with the five-wicket win tied up. This act immediately charmed the hearts of the social media.
The Super Eight campaign that India had made it to was narrowly escaping because of a patchy performance and a defeat would have been the end. Samson had himself been up and down the XI, and dropped himself over a decisive battle in the middle of the stage. However, in Kolkata, with the country required to calm and be courageous, the 31-year-old produced a brilliant performance in times of pressure.
West Indies lost 195/4 following late fireworks by Rovman Powell and Jason Holder. The pursuit did not start well as India lost two wickets in the first five overs. In the meantime Samson had one of the innings, with 12 fours and four sixes. His fifty came off just 26 balls.
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One of the most crucial stand was a 42 run partnership with Tilak Varma shifting the tide permanently towards India. He appropriately finished the game in the fashionable way and took India home with four balls to spare and wrote the most successful T20I chase at the stadium. The innings is now the most important with his 97 taking the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase.
Suryakumar was loved by many because of the action of hat-doffing. He later on praised the patience of Samson and said that good things happen to those who wait and do things behind the scenes.
“See, I always say, good things happen to good people who wait, who have a lot of patience. I said it just now as well when I met him. But then it’s all his hard work, what he’s been doing behind the doors when he was not playing, and he’s got the fruit of it at the perfect stage. And the way he batted, took the side completely to victory.”
Suryakumar Yadav
Head coach Gautam Gambhir agreed, describing Samson as “world-class” and embracing him warmly following the match.
“He’s a world class player, we all know how good a player Sanju is. It was all about backing him. When the team needed him the most – obviously today was the day – he showed his full potential. I actually felt that he never accelerated the innings. It was just very normal cricketing shots and I never saw him muscling the ball as well. That is the kind of talent he has,” Gambhir told reporters after the game.
