Sanju Samson’s fireworks lit up Wankhede as he hammered 89 off 42 deliveries – 8 fours, 7 sixes – equaling Virat Kohli’s T20 World Cup knockout benchmark against England in semi-final 2. The 26-ball fifty marked his second consecutive half-ton, building on a 97* that sealed India’s semi-final entry.
After quiet outings against Namibia and Zimbabwe drew flak, Samson’s response has been emphatic. England, electing to chase after toss, saw Abhishek Sharma depart for 9 early on. Samson rebuilt with Ishan Kishan (97 runs, 45 balls) and Shivam Dube (43 runs, 22 balls), pushing India to 160/3 by over 13.1.
This places Samson alongside Kohli’s 89* (WI, 2016), with the latter’s other gems at 77 (SL, 2014) and 76 (SA, 2024). Gambhir’s 75 (Pak, 2007) rounds out the elite list. In a tournament demanding clutch performances, Samson’s surge could prove decisive for India’s World Cup dreams.