Sanju Samson's Unbeaten 97 Powers India to Semifinals

Sanju Samson's journey to this point has been anything but a straight line. He was one half of an explosive opening partnership that helped India build towards this title defence. Then he was displaced by a returning Shubman Gill, then reinstated, then usurped again by Ishan Kishan, his place in the XI even when he played feeling perpetually provisional.

But when the campaign needed rescuing, when the stakes crystallised into a virtual quarterfinal against West Indies at the Eden Gardens, Samson walked out and refused to be moved. His unbeaten 97 off 50 balls was not merely the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase, it powered India to their highest ever successful chase in T20 World Cup history, and in doing so, booked a semifinal date with England.

Chasing 195 at Eden Gardens, a venue that has swallowed bigger totals with ease, the target was theoretically manageable. Yet, there was nothing theoretical about the pressure. India had stumbled through this tournament, the pre-tournament favourites constantly looking for answers to questions they'd barely faced when they brushed aside teams in bilateral series.

Samson's knock was all about sustained momentum through the course. He stroking 24 off the 13 balls he faced to carry India to 53 for 2 after six overs. In the four overs after the Powerplay, India added 45 with Samson playing the percentages to near perfection.

West Indies' innings after being asked to bat had the uncertain gait of a man walking a tightrope in no particular hurry, and much of that hesitancy bore the footprints of captain Shai Hope. On a track that gave bowlers little to dream about, Hope faced 25 deliveries in the Powerplay for exactly 25 runs.

India's bowlers played a crucial role in restricting West Indies. Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy coiled in reserve, between them capable of bowling half the remaining 14 overs. Chakaravarthy ended Hope's laboured vigil with a delivery that skidded low and rattled the stumps.

Brief scores: West Indies 195/4 in 20 overs (Roston Chase 40, Jason Holder 37*; Jasprit Bumrah 2-36) lost to India 199/5 in 19.2 overs (Sanju Samson 97*, Tilak Varma 27; Jason Holder 2-38) by five wickets.