For the second consecutive knockout match, Sanju Samson showed nerves of steel as he blasted 89 runs off 42 balls against England in the IND vs ENG semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in Mumbai.
Samson was responsible for India reaching the semi-final in the first place. Four nights ago, he played one of the great T20 World Cup knocks, thumping 97* against the West Indies in a chase of 196 while no other Indian batsman scored more than 27.
On the back of the then career-defining knock against the West Indies, Samson produced another career-headlining innings with Jofra Archer and co. in front of him. The right-hander looked even more imperious tonight in the semi-final.
There had been a lot of chatter over Archer’s dominant record over Samson before this match, especially the bumpers through which he had Samson struggling last year in a bilateral series.
However, the Kerala batsman was prepared for Archer’s challenge and blasted him with thunderous pull shots.
Right from the first over, Samson tore into Archer. All in, he plundered Archer for four sixes and three fours as India got on their way to a momentous total.
As they say, luck favors the brave: Samson got a huge slice of luck when he was dropped by England captain Harry Brook when he had scored only 15 runs.
Neither that dropped catch nor Abhishek Sharma’s wicket deterred Samson from his aggressive approach. As the Wankhede crowd rallied with cheers, roars, and chants, Samson and Ishan Kishan downed England’s spirits with their staggering partnership of 97 runs off 45 balls.
Kishan’s 39 off 18 balls, which included four fours and two maximums, meant fireworks ensued from both ends as India touched the 100-run mark in just the 9th over of the innings.
Although Kishan got out, Samson’s charge against the Three Lions continued during his 43 (22) stand with Shivam Dube.
His dismissal was typical Samson: he was on 89 when the 14th over began with plenty of time left to jog to his century, but Samson selflessly went after Will Jacks for a maximum and holed out in the deep on the offside.
Sanju Samson walked off to a standing ovation from the Wankhede crowd and from the Indian dugout.
Regardless of where India go from here in this tournament, Samson’s sizzling innings in back-to-back knockout matches have propelled him into Indian cricket folklore as the right-hander finally realized the potential everyone knew he had in him.
IND vs ENG: Fans on Twitter reacted in awe of Sanju Samson’s blistering knock against England in the semi-final
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