Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has showered praise on Sanju Samson after India registered a five-wicket win against the West Indies in the Super 8 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday. Chasing a competitive total of 196, Samson scored a match-winning knock of 97 runs off just 50 balls to take his team over the line.
The Indian opener smashed a dozen fours and four sixes in his magnum opus knock and scored his runs at a strike rate of 194. Samson showed all the maturity and didn’t throw away his start. The Kerala batter also became the first Indian batter other than Virat Kohli to win a Player of the Match in the run-chase of more than 160 in a T20 World Cup game.
With this win, India was also able to book their semifinal berth in the ongoing T20I showpiece.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “It was one of the greatest chases by one batter. I’ve not seen a knock like this of late. God has designed everything for you. From somewhere, everything is aligning perfectly for him. Ultimately, God has been behind you. I’ve seen Virat Kohli’s knock against Pakistan in Melbourne but I’ve not seen a knock like this in a run chase. To eclipse Virat Kohli is a big thing.”
Srikkanth praised Samson for showing all the calm in a pressure run-chase and for getting the job done for the team.
“Sanju made things look very easy. He intentionally did not play a single cross-batted shot. He was keeping calm and had so much time to play his shots. It was a crunch game for India and himself, having scored only in the 20s in the last two games. It was not only a must-win game for India but also a must-score game for him. He has the nerves of steel to produce such a knock in a must-win and must-score game.”
“It needs a certain type of resolve. He never looked ruffled, and his body language never looked like someone chasing a massive score. He dominated all the partnerships. To be so calm when the whole world is watching, and take up the responsibility to deliver, Sanju was incredible. Sanju Samson almost made it a one-sided affair. No Indian will ever forget this knock in their lives.”
India will take on England in the second semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday.
