Suryakumar Yadav bows down to Sanju Samson days after mocking him at press conference

Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav made a special gesture after Sanju Samson produced a match-winning knock against the West Indies in the Super 8 clash in Kolkata on Sunday, March 1. Following the victory, Suryakumar bowed to Samson in appreciation of his stunning innings in a high-pressure game.

Samson produced a career-defining knock to take India into the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Chasing a target of 196, Samson scored an unbeaten 97 runs off just 50 balls, smashing 12 fours and four sixes. India sealed a five-wicket win with four balls to spare against the West Indies.

Suryakumar Yadav Pays Special Tribute to Sanju Samson After Sensational Innings

Sanju Samson held his nerve in the final over and finished the chase in dramatic fashion. With seven needed off six balls, the 31-year-old launched Romario Shepherd for a six on the first delivery and then struck a four off the very next ball.

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After hitting the winning boundary, Sanju Samson dropped to his knees and celebrated before walking over to shake hands with the West Indies players.

Indian players rushed out to greet him with hugs. Suryakumar Yadav removed his cap and bowed to Samson in appreciation of the match-winning knock. Teammates, including Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma, joined in to celebrate a chase that will be remembered for years.

झुकती है दुनिया झुकाने वाला चाहिए।
प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस में दिखाए गए सूर्या के अहंकार को आज संजू ने अपने प्रदर्शन से झुका दिया।
❤️ 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LbWrhwn4pY

— J P YADAV (@JANAKPRATAPYAD3) March 2, 2026

Samson Guides India to Semi-Finals After West Indies Set 195

After being asked to bat first, the West Indies openers Roston Chase and Shai Hope provided a solid start. Rovman Powell added 34 not out off 19 balls, while Jason Holder smashed 37 not out off 22 balls, helping West Indies post a challenging total of 195 for 4.

In response, India’s in-form batters struggled under pressure. However, Sanju Samson remained calm throughout the chase. He paced his innings smartly, took control in the middle overs, and batted with confidence to guide India to 199 for 5 in 19.2 overs.

This was only Samson’s third appearance in a T20 World Cup across two editions. He missed out entirely in 2024 and played just one group-stage match this year when Abhishek Sharma was sidelined with a stomach infection.

After returning following India’s loss to South Africa, Samson impressed with a cameo against Zimbabwe and then delivered a match-defining innings against the West Indies. India will face England in the second semi-final of the World Cup in Mumbai on Thursday.

You Are Asking Me to Drop Abhishek? - Suryakumar Yadav Reacts to Sanju Samson Query

Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav was asked about bringing Sanju Samson back into the playing XI during the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage. He questioned the idea of dropping Abhishek Sharma or Tilak Varma to include Samson at the top of the order.

During the pre-match press conference, Suryakumar chuckled about Samson’s inclusion in the playing XI. He repeated the question with a smile, saying, “You are asking me to drop Abhishek?”

This was Surya Kumar Yadav a few days ago, mocking a reporter for questioning the absence of Sanju Samson.

Today, Samson has single handedly kept India in the game pic.twitter.com/reiNPk7JsK

— Parth MN (@parthpunter) March 1, 2026

When Samson was given his opportunity, he responded in style with a match-winning knock under pressure, justifying the faith shown by the team management. His performance not only settled the selection debate but also highlighted the depth India possess.

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