You could almost hear a billion hearts thumping in unison last night. With the final semi-final berth on the line, it was all or nothing in Kolkata. By the time the dust settled, it was India into semi-finals, and what a way to get there. For Sanju Samson, a man who has spent months under a cloud of doubt, it felt like redemption with a flourish.

T20 World Cup 2026：India vs West Indies Match Highlights

West Indies, in this virtual quarter-final at Eden Gardens, posted a formidable 195 for 4. It looked hefty, though not beyond reach on a good surface. Their innings was a curious mix of muscle and missed opportunity. Captain Shai Hope made 32 off 33, steady but not quite incendiary. Around him, the big hitters flexed. Roston Chase counterpunched smartly, while Jason Holder and Rovman Powell gave it real welly at the death. Powell, now past 150 T20I sixes, underlined why this West Indian side has been one of the most fearsome six-hitting outfits of the tournament.

India’s bowlers had their moments. Jasprit Bumrah was typically clever, holding his nerve when it mattered, and the spinners squeezed just enough to prevent the total from ballooning past 200. Still, 196 to win in a must-win clash? That’s asking a fair bit.

What a performance from Sanju Samson 👏 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/lJhDP0GlVu

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 1, 2026

Which brings us neatly back to the India vs West Indies match highlights that will be replayed for years: the chase. Early wickets fell, nerves jangled, and yet there stood Sanju Samson, serene amid the storm. His unbeaten 97 off 50 balls was not a slogger’s frenzy but a craftsman’s masterclass. By the end, the scoreboard read 199 for 5. Cue the headline: India into semi-finals.

India vs West Indies Match Result (Scorecard)

A Chase for the Ages

Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just another successful pursuit. The 196 target is now India’s highest ever chase at a men’s T20 World Cup, surpassing their previous best of 173 back in 2014. In the broader tournament history, it ranks among the top three chases ever completed.

India are through to the #T20WorldCup semi-finals ✨ pic.twitter.com/431RyYOLqw

— ICC (@ICC) March 1, 2026

For context, India have only been asked to chase more than 173 four times in T20 World Cup history. On this occasion, they did it under knockout pressure. This is the sixth time India have reached the last four of the men’s T20 World Cup, a mark matched only by the likes of England cricket team and Pakistan cricket team. Watch the India vs West Indies match highlights again and you’ll notice something telling: not once did Samson look flustered. It was calculation, not chaos.

“One of the Greatest Days of My Life” – The Samson Story

After sealing India into semi-finals with a languid six and a crisp boundary, Sanju Samson dropped to his knees. Later, clutching his Player-of-the-Match award, he said it was “one of the greatest days of my life.”

“I never felt that I would do something special like this,” Sanju Samson admitted. “I was just focusing on my role, one ball at a time… I think this is one of the greatest days of my life.”

There was something wonderfully human about that. This is a player who debuted back in 2015, drifted in and out of the side, and began this tournament as a back-up option. Yet here he was, rewriting record books. His 97* is the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase, eclipsing the 82* efforts of Virat Kohli in previous editions. It was also his first fifty in a T20I run chase, talk about timing.

BIG occasion 🤝 BIG knock

Sanju Samson is adjudged the Player of the Match at the Eden Gardens ✨

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ur4pr8Bi3K#TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #INDvWI | @IamSanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/tmKNBWbFNA

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2026

He spoke about learning by watching great finishers, about understanding tempo, about building partnerships when wickets fell. And that’s exactly what he did. While others flashed and fell, Samson stayed. While the equation tightened, Samson loosened it.

Make way for #TeamIndia! 👏💙

England ✅
South Africa ✅
New Zealand ✅
India ✅

The defending champions make the ICC Men’s T20 WC semi-finals for the 6th time 😍

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup Semi-Final 2 👉 #INDvENG | THU, 5 MAR, 6 PM pic.twitter.com/cSJWeOLh0F

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 1, 2026

Final Words

So when we look back at this night in Kolkata, we won’t just remember the numbers. We’ll remember the feeling. The tension. The release. The moment India into semi-finals became reality. Next, India will face England, aiming to get their ticket to the final.