IND vs WI: Sanju Samson's Virat Kohli-esque special powers India into semifinal
India Today
IND vs WI, T20 World Cup Super 8: Sanju Samson produced a masterclass in chasing under pressure on Sunday, crafting an unbeaten 97 to lead India past West Indies' daunting 195 at Eden Gardens. India will take on England in the semifinals on Thursday in Mumbai.
Brief Score: India (199 for 5 in 19.2 overs) beat West Indies (195 for 4 in 20 overs) by 5 wickets in their final Super 8 match. India marched into the semifinal with that win at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. | Scorecard |
West Indies posted a daunting 195 on Sunday. In that moment, India's bold decision to bowl first at Eden Gardens appeared to have backfired. History was not on their side. Their chasing record in T20 World Cups was fragile. And this time, they did not have Virat Kohli.
The equation was unforgiving. India's batters were chasing history, battling a fearless West Indies side, and carrying the crushing weight of a virtual quarter-final. On paper, it felt overwhelming. India had never chased more than 160 in a T20 World Cup match without Kohli in the XI. The last time they had successfully hunted down a target in excess of 170 in the tournament was 12 years ago. The past loomed large. The present offered little comfort.
The pressure intensified when India lost two of their most explosive batters inside the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma fell for 10. Ishan Kishan followed soon after, also for 10. The early damage was severe. The dressing room grew quiet. Inside Eden Gardens, among nearly 60,000 spectators, tension hung thick in the air.
When Ishan picked out the deep mid-wicket fielder in the fifth over with the score reading 41 for 2, a chilling silence swept across the stadium.
India did not have Virat Kohli. They had lost Abhishek. They had lost Ishan.
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