Agencies
Kolkata
India opener Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97 under pressure in a virtual quarterfinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has drawn glowing tributes from former greats, who believe the knock could mark a significant turning point in his career.
Chasing a stiff 196 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday, Samson struck a masterful 97 not out off 50 balls, studded with 12 fours and four sixes, to steer India into the semifinals. The five-wicket victory set up a last-four clash against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri described the innings as “special” for its temperament as
much as its strokeplay.
“What I liked best was even with wickets falling around him, he never lost his cool. He was calm and composed in front of a big crowd. This was not a league game. This was a knockout contest,” Shastri said on The ICC Review.
Batting through the innings after skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal left India in a tricky position, Samson forged crucial partnerships with Tilak Varma (27) and Hardik Pandya (17) to keep the chase alive. The winning runs came in the final over, but Samson’s control over proceedings was rarely in doubt.
Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar said the knock had lifted the burden not just off Samson’s shoulders but off those who believed in his talent.
“He is such a nice guy. Everybody wants him to do well. To be the Man of the Match in a must-win game is a dream come true,” Gavaskar said, adding that minimizing dot balls was key to India’s
successful chase.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly termed it an “outstanding” innings and backed Samson to be a consistent feature in India’s white-ball squads. “It was a virtual quarterfinal and to be 97 not out shows his quality. When he gets in, he will hurt the opposition,” Ganguly said.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that Samson had been given a break after a difficult New Zealand series to ease mounting pressure.
“Sometimes it’s important to get the guy off that pressure situation. We always knew the talent he had. Three T20 hundreds — not many have that,” Gambhir said, adding that the knock was a reflection of the faith shown in him.
For Samson, the turnaround was as much mental as technical. He admitted to switching off his phone and staying away from social media during
his lean patch.
“I kept believing in myself, switched off my phone, switched off social media and listened to my own self,” Samson said. “When wickets kept falling, I felt I needed to finish the game. I dared to dream and it happened.”
With two games separating India from the title, Samson’s poise under pressure may well be the spark that ignites a defining phase in his international career.
