Picture : BCCI/X
Defending Champions India powered their way the semi-finals the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as they beat West Indies by 5 wickets at Eden Gardens. Kolkata. India now for place in the final will play England in the second semi-final in Mumbai on March 5.
Earlier, in a must win game for both West Indies and India to reach the final four , India Skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first. West Indies were cautious at the start and were not explosive. Skipper Shai Hope 32 and fellow opener Roston Chase 40 could score 68 in 8.5 overs when the first wicket fell of Hope .
In- form duo of Shimron Hetmyer ( 27 ) and Sherfane Rutherford ( 14) could not carry on. It was left to the late- order blitz by Rovman Powell 34 ( 19 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) and Jason Holder 37( 22 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) both batsmen remained not out and saw West Indies reach a respectable total of 195/4 in their 20 overs.
Indian Bowlers pulled things back otherwise West Indies were on course for a 200 plus total. Arshdeep Singh 0/43 ( 4 overs) , Hardik Pandya 1/40 ( 4 overs), Axar Patel 0/35 ( 4 overs), Jasprit Bumrah 2/36 ( 4 overs), Varun Varun Chakaravarthy 1/40 ( 4 overs)
Chasing 196 in front of the vocal Eden Gardens crowd , India lost Abhishek Sharma early for 10 with the total at 29/1 in 3 overs. Ishan Kishan followed son for 10. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav was out cheaply for 18. However, unfazed by wickets falling at the other end Sanju Samson was firm and determined. Tilak Varma ( 27), Hardik Pandya ( 17 ) . Indian batting particularly the middle- order has struggled . Wins have put their weaknesses under the carpet.
📸📸
A memorable night at Eden Gardens 🥳#TeamIndia register their highest successful chase in ICC Men’s T20 World Cups ✅
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ur4pr8Bi3K#T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/lEpN4LIWXU
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2026
If other batsmen struggled, Sanju Samson played the best innings of his career and single-handedly powered India to the semi-finals with a stunning unbeaten innings of 97 ( 50 balls, 12 fours, 4 sixes) . It was the game changing innings and was the diffrence at the end . India reaching 199/5 in 19. 2 overs. Shivam Dube not out 8 along with Samson saw India home to the dleight of the huge crowd.
Take a bow, Sanju Samson 🙇♂️#TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #INDvWI | @IamSanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/8sDSdkiIWw
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2026
West Indies bowling : Akeal Hosein 1/22 ( 2 overs), Matthew Forde 0/22 ( 3 overs), Jason Holder 2/38 ( 4 overs), Gudakesh Motie 0/18 ( 2 overs), Romario Shepherd 0/34 ( 2.2 overs), Shamar Joseph 2/42 (4 overs), Roston Chase 0/18 ( 2 overs)
Match: T20 World Cup 2026, 52nd Match
Venue: Kolkata | Date: March 01, 2026
