Eden Gardens has been a stage for drama, despair and defining moments. On Sunday evening, it became the backdrop for belief. India completed their highest-ever successful chase in T20 World Cup history, hunting down 196 against West Indies to book a semi-final berth. At the heart of the pursuit was Sanju Samson, unbeaten on 97 from 50 deliveries, composed under pressure and measured when the contest tightened.
Sanju Samson on India vs West Indies heroics
The target was demanding. West Indies had set 195. India’s reply never settled into comfort, with wickets falling at regular intervals and the required rate hovering.
Later, Samson acknowledged that while chasing around 190 at Eden Gardens with dew setting in can appear manageable, the steady loss of wickets altered the equation.
“It was a bit of a difficult chase,” he said on Haier Match Centre Live. “Looking at our batting power, I felt that chasing 190-odd at Eden Gardens, when dew comes in, gets a bit easier, but losing wickets at regular intervals made it challenging. To be honest, that’s where my experience and my role played a big part.”
“I got a good start, but when the wickets kept falling, I felt I needed to finish the game and take it till the last moment. Normally you feel like doing it, but it doesn’t happen all the time, so I am very grateful it happened in this game.”
Recognised for his flair and expansive strokeplay, Samson adjusted his method on the night. Rather than forcing big hits, he focused on calculated options and boundary accumulation.
“When you are chasing a score like this in a pressure game, you take different options and play more boundaries rather than looking at risk-taking options. The ball was coming on nicely, they were bowling with good pace, so I kept timing it and it came well.”
Sanju Samson on game-changing 10 Days
Only weeks earlier, Samson had endured a difficult series against New Zealand, with his place in the side drawing scrutiny. Debate intensified and criticism followed.
His response was to disconnect.
“Our human nature is that we often start from a negative thought like, ‘Can I do it? I don’t think I can.’ When I have that thought, I try to alter it with a very positive one. When I had a series like New Zealand where I wanted to perform and be part of the World Cup team, things did not work out well, but luckily I got a 10-day gap. I did not play any games and was not in the side.”
Those 10 days brought no matches, only reflection.
“I kept thinking, ‘Sanju, what else? Why didn’t it work? What else should I do?’ So I did some soul-searching. I worked on my base, how I set myself up, and came back to it.”
There were technical refinements, but not a complete reset. Samson leaned on what had previously worked for him.
“I have scored three international hundreds with the same setup. I did not want to change too much. Shot selection was something I kept working on. I kept believing in myself.”
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The most telling adjustment was mental.
“I switched off my phone, switched off social media and listened to myself.”
In a competition where external noise can overwhelm, Samson chose clarity.
Daring to dream on the big stage
From a statistical perspective, the innings was significant:
- India’s highest successful chase in T20 World Cup history
- Joint third-highest chase in the tournament
- Highest successful chase at Eden Gardens
Beyond the numbers, it carried emotional weight.
“More than a hundred cricketers in India dream about a day like this,” Samson said. “I dared to dream. A young guy from Trivandrum, Kerala, dreaming about playing for the country and winning a game in such a crucial match. I dared to dream and it happened.”
For much of his career, Samson’s narrative has alternated between expectation and interruption. His ability has rarely been questioned; his consistency often has. On Sunday, skill and composure aligned. He did more than anchor a chase — he backed his preparation and saw it through.
