Wankhede Stadium erupted as Sanju Samson carved out 89 runs from 42 balls, studded with 8 boundaries and 7 maximums, against England in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final. This blistering innings ties him with Virat Kohli for the most by an Indian in a tournament knockout stage, mirroring Kohli’s iconic 89* from 2016.
Samson’s timing couldn’t be better – his second straight fifty came after a 97* that powered India past West Indies into the semis. Facing early criticism post tepid shows against Namibia (22 runs) and Zimbabwe (24), he has flipped the narrative with ruthless batting.
Post-toss, England bowled first, striking early by removing Abhishek Sharma for 9. Samson countered brilliantly, forging a 97-run alliance with Ishan Kishan (45 balls) and 43 with Shivam Dube (22 balls). At 13.1 overs, India stood at 160/3, thanks to his onslaught.
Kohli’s resume boasts 77 against Sri Lanka (2014) and 76 versus South Africa (2024), while Gautam Gambhir made 75 against Pakistan in 2007. Samson’s ascent from bench-warmer to record-tying hero highlights his evolution, injecting momentum into India’s campaign as the semi-final intensifies.