India have beaten West Indies by five wickets to book their spot in the semi-finals alongside England, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The victory means India progress in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Samson’s Key Innings Leads India to Victory
Sanju Samson starred to help India chase down West Indies in their showdown for a place in the semi-finals. India captain Suryakumar Yadav said good things happen to good people who wait, and Sanju Samson is getting the fruit of his hard work. Yadav noted what Samson has been doing behind closed doors when he has not been playing. He added that the way Samson batted took the side to victory.
West Indies captain Shai Hope said Samson had a great knock and gave him credit.
Yadav Praises Team’s Courage Under Pressure
Suryakumar Yadav said it was a do-or-die situation, like a quarter-final game. He praised the way the boys showed character, calling it a great thing. Yadav said they deserved their spot in the semi-finals, based on how they have played from the first game.
Yadav added that expectations will always be there, but the players should know what they want to do on the field. He said he told the boys that when a game like this comes, they have to be courageous, bring their A-game, put their best foot forward and take a positive option. He felt they were quite good in taking that option.
He also stated, “If there’s no pressure, there’s no fun.”
West Indies Reflect on Tournament Exit
Shai Hope felt his team could have scored a bit more towards the end of their batting innings. He did, however, praise the effort with the ball. Hope felt they adjusted and adapted to the conditions nicely. He noted that they took a lot of wickets in the powerplay and the spinners did a great job. He summarised that all around, the bowlers were great but they did not get over the line.
On the tournament as a whole, Shai Hope said you never want to end at this point. He gave the guys credit but said that you always want to go all the way and win. He acknowledged that they have high standards but there are things to take away.
The first semi-final will be between South Africa and New Zealand on Wednesday.