In a heart-pounding semifinal at Wankhede, Sanju Samson delivered a match-winning blitz, propelling India to a 7-run triumph over England and a spot in the final. His unbeaten 89 from 42 deliveries, laced with 8 boundaries and 7 maximums, fetched him Player of the Match honors.
The partnership with Ishan Kishan – 97 runs off 45 balls for the second wicket – proved pivotal after India, sent in to bat, posted 253/7. England came close with 246/7 but couldn’t breach the target.
Elated Samson shared insights: ‘Feels great. I felt my form bouncing back post previous match, so continuing it was vital. Big games demand peak performance; I gave myself room to settle, played calculated shots after initial luck, and rode the momentum.’
On the venue’s quirks, he noted, ‘Wankhede teaches you no total is defendable. I pushed for more runs knowing 250+ is chaseable. England’s chase was impressive; full marks to them for a gripping contest.’
Samson highlighted team synergy: ‘Experience here helps gauge pitches. Today’s collective show was outstanding – hats off to Bumrah. Wankhede magic doesn’t let you think centuries; stay aggressive, contribute, and joy follows. Thrilled for the team.’
The summit clash awaits on March 8 in Ahmedabad versus New Zealand, with Samson primed to shine.
