Sanju Samson, the new Virat Kohli! India, Pakistan legends in awe after T20 World Cup masterclass

Sanju Samson has been receiving applause from all quarters after his remarkable knock took India to the semifinal of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 on March 1 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

India looked in trouble while chasing 196 against the West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash in Kolkata. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan fell cheaply, putting pressure on the rest of the lineup, but Sanju Samson took charge and flipped the entire script.

Sanju Samson takes India to the T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinal

The Kerala star smashed an unbeaten 97 from just 50 balls. He reached his fifty in only 26 balls and built a strong 50-run stand with captain Suryakumar Yadav and steadied the chase against the West Indies. Once settled, the right-handed batter attacked bowlers all around the ground as India thrashed the West Indies by five wickets to make it to the semifinals.

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With this knock, Samson broke a massive record. He went past Virat Kohli for the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase. Many now call the Indian wicketkeeper the new Kohli after this masterclass. Notably, it was only his third outing in the ongoing tournament.

India and Pakistan greats salute Samson for his heroics

Following his historic knock in the Super 8 clash against the West Indies, congratulatory messages poured in for Sanju Samson from the cricket fraternity to Mollywood celebrities. Pakistani legends Wasim Akram, Mohammad Yousaf, Mohammad Amir, and Ahmed Shehzad hail Sanju’s fearless batting.

Mohammad Yousaf posted, X: “Sanju Samson stepping in for Kohli highlights the strength of India’s cricketing infrastructure and the depth built by a robust system. No slogging, only pure technical skills applied with aggression and intent. #INDvsWI"

On the other hand, Indian legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Yuvraj Singh also praised Samson for his memorable efforts under pressure in Kolkata. Even the film world joined the celebration. Malayalam superstars Mohanlal, Mammootty, Tovino Thomas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Dulquer Salmaan cheered loudly for their Kerala hero on social media.

Read Also: “Rulayega kya pagle”: Sanju Samson stops Suryakumar Yadav from complimenting him

Here's how cricket legends and film stars laud Samson on X:

#Sanju Samson stepping in for Kohli highlights the strength of India’s cricketing infrastructure and the depth built by a robust system. No slogging, only pure technical skills applied with aggression and intent. #INDvsWi

— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) March 1, 2026

Not many opportunities this #WorldCup, but when it mattered, Sanju stood tall and played the innings of his life 👏🏻 That’s the mindset of a champion! Stay ready, stay patient and never stop believing! Proud of you @IamSanjuSamson! The spirit of never giving up always wins!…

— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) March 1, 2026

Semi-final spot on the line, and the boys handled it beautifully!

Handling the final overs well in both innings gave us the edge. Sanju Samson’s calm presence at the crease was wonderful to watch. That kind of presence lifts a side.

Brilliant effort from everyone. On to the… https://t.co/Y5874i9v2d

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 1, 2026

Well played, boys! 🙌 Clinical performance, unstoppable spirit, and a true champions’ mindset on display. One step closer to glory — let’s bring it home! 💙🏏

Pure dominance from @IamSanjuSamson 🔥#TeamIndia 🇮🇳 #WorldCup #SemiFinals

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) March 1, 2026

Today @IamSanjuSamson has made all of us proud. Critical breakthroughs by @Jaspritbumrah93 also helped Team India. Congratulations #MenInBlue for the wonderful win. Our hearts stopped several times throughout the match but all is well that ends well. Happy for #TeamIndia. Best…

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 1, 2026

A composed and clinical chase from Team India to seal a spot in the semis.

A clutch knock from @IamSanjuSamson, anchoring the chase with conviction & clarity. Chasing 196 showcased the belief & character this Indian team carries 🇮🇳

This win will give them a lot of confidence…

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) March 1, 2026

🚨 MASSIVE STATEMENT BY WASIM AKRAM ON SANJU SAMSON 🚨

Wasim Akram said 🗣️

"I knew that India would go to the semi-finals and almost certainly play the finals as well but I don't understand why Sanju Samson didn't get a chance in the first few matches. The 97 he scored today… pic.twitter.com/2sd0EiEWkM

— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) March 2, 2026

🚨 Pakistani cricketers stunned by Sanju Samson

Mohammad Amir: “I can see Rohit Sharma’s reflection in Sanju Samson.”

Ahmed Shehzad: “There is so much competition in India that Sanju had to sit on bench despite scoring two centuries in SA. But today he was brilliant, something… pic.twitter.com/z78owy5rkA

— Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) March 2, 2026

The best innings of his career considering the match situation. The maturity he showed throughout was outstanding.
A top-class, match-winning knock from Sanju Samson. 👏

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 1, 2026

THE KERALA STORY: Sanju Samson takes India to the semis.

— CS Amudhan (@csamudhan) March 1, 2026

What a knock, @IamSanjuSamson
Pure class. Pure dominance. A fearless statement on the biggest stage.

Congratulations to the Indian cricket team for marching into the #T20WorldCup2026 Semi Final. pic.twitter.com/j8Di5hYY7C

— Mammootty (@mammukka) March 1, 2026

Exhilarating to watch @IamSanjuSamson in such sublime form! A truly masterful innings that speaks volumes of his character and talent. Hearty congratulations to the entire Indian team for storming into the #T20WorldCup2026 Semi-Finals. Keep the flag flying high! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/jLMYCQSOWc

— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) March 1, 2026

History almost repeats in T20 World Cup 2026 but India flipped the story

Back in 2016, the West Indies cricket team broke Indian hearts in the T20 World Cup semifinal. They chased 193 in the final over and knocked India out of the tournament. Indian fans never forgot that painful night. Now, a decade later, the situation looked very similar.

India had to chase 196 to stay alive in the T20 World Cup 2026. Pressure was high, and the memories of 2016 were fresh in everyone’s mind, but this time, the story changed. The Men in Blue stayed calm and played smart cricket and finished the job and sealed a place in the semifinal.