ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson's emotional statement after India's victory
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Sanju Samson led India to the semi-finals on Sunday with an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls against the West Indies. He was named Player of the Match for this powerful innings, which included four sixes and 12 fours.
West Indies, batting first, scored 195 for four. India's victory was one of the biggest successful chases at Eden Gardens in World Cup history.
There were times when I doubted myself: Sanju
Hero of the match Sanju Samson said emotionally, "From the day I started playing cricket and dreamed of playing for my country, I've been waiting for an innings like this. My journey has been full of ups and downs. There were times when I doubted myself, wondering if I could do it. But today I received God's blessings, for which I am grateful."
I've learned a lot from great players
Explaining his innings strategy, Sanju said, "I've been playing this format for a long time. I've learned a lot from great players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. I've seen how they adapt their game to the circumstances."
Sanju said, "In the last match, we were batting first, so I was aggressive from the start, but today the situation was different. I didn't know I would be able to play such a special innings, but this is one of the most memorable days of my life."
Sanju had previously played in two matches – 22 runs against Namibia and 24 runs against Zimbabwe – after which questions were raised about his form. But in this crucial match, he responded brilliantly and took India to the semi-finals.