IND VS WI: Samson’s unbeaten 97 powers India to qualify for ICC T20 WC’s semi-final

NEW DELHI: The last clash of the Super Eights between the India national cricket team and the West Indies cricket team saw the Men in Blue successfully chase down a challenging 195-run target set by the Shai Hope-led side.

Sanju Samson played a match-winning knock, scoring an unbeaten 97 under pressure to guide India home in the IND vs WI encounter.

IND’s batting performance

India’s batting display was effective but far from smooth, as the chase saw both early setbacks and a composed finish.

India suffered early blows during the power play, losing key wickets that put immediate pressure on the chase. The openers failed to convert their starts into meaningful contributions, leaving the side in a slightly unstable position.

The middle order steadied the innings with useful contributions in the 20s and 30s. While they helped rebuild after early losses, none of the batters, apart from Samson, managed to take full control of the innings.

Sanju Samson anchored the chase brilliantly, combining calm strike rotation with timely aggression. His unbeaten 97 proved decisive, as he accelerated when needed and finished the match with authority.

India’s batting effort can be termed as a team contribution with a standout individual performance. While the top and middle order provided partial support, it was Samson’s exceptional innings that ensured a successful chase in a high-pressure scenario. With this victory, India have officially qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final, where they will face the England cricket team.

WI’s batting line

Earlier, West Indies posted a competitive 195-4, built on a collective batting effort led by Roston Chase, who top-scored with 40 off 25 balls. Despite solid starts across the lineup, the hosts fell short of delivering a late surge to cross the 200-run mark.

Captain Shai Hope set the tone with a composed 33 off 33, anchoring the innings alongside Brandon King. The duo ensured stability in the powerplay, though India managed to keep things under control.

Shimron Hetmyer injected momentum with a quickfire 27 off just 12 deliveries, striking at over 200. However, his brief cameo ended early, allowing India to regain control during the middle overs.

Late contributions from Sherfane Rutherford (14 off 9) and Rovman Powell (34 off 19) added valuable runs, while Jason Holder remained unbeaten on 37 off 22 to push the total to 195.

Despite a strong collective effort, the absence of a big individual score meant the innings never fully dominated.

India Playing XI

Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah

WI Playing XI

Skipper Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph