PM Modi hails J&K Ranji Trophy win, India’s T20 World Cup triumph in Mann Ki Baat
Narendra Modi hails Jammu and Kashmir’s maiden Ranji Trophy win, India’s T20 World Cup triumph, and rising stars like Anahat Singh and Gulveer Singh in Mann Ki Baat.
India sealed a thrilling five-wicket win in Kolkata to book their place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, chasing down 196 with four balls to spare. The victory was powered by a sublime 97 from Sanju Samson, whose composed yet commanding knock anchored the innings and ensured India crossed the line in style.
The chase, however, was far from straightforward. India began positively but suffered early setbacks as Abhishek Sharma fell in the third over, followed by Ishan Kishan in the fifth. The pressure mounted when Suryakumar Yadav departed in the 11th over, and Tilak Varma’s dismissal in the 15th left the middle order under scrutiny.
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Super 8 ICC T20 World Cup 2026: India beat West Indies by 5 wickets.#T20WorldCup2026 #Super8 #T20WorldCup #SanjuSamson #TeamIndia
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— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) March 1, 2026
Through the turbulence, Samson remained the backbone of the innings. Timing the ball exquisitely and finding boundaries at crucial junctures, he balanced aggression with control. Hardik Pandya provided valuable support, rotating the strike and looking to accelerate before his late dismissal briefly added tension. Despite a few nervy moments in the middle overs, India held their composure to complete the chase and march into the knockouts with momentum on their side.
Earlier, West Indies posted a competitive 195/4 in their 20 overs at Eden Gardens. The innings started cautiously, with Shai Hope accumulating steadily before falling for 32 off 33 balls to Varun Chakaravarthy in the ninth over. Shimron Hetmyer added 32 off 26 but was trapped by Jasprit Bumrah in the 12th.
Roston Chase injected momentum with a brisk 40 off 25 deliveries before edging Bumrah, who emerged as India’s standout bowler. The late surge came from Rovman Powell (34 off 19)* and Jason Holder (37 off 22)*, who punished the Indian attack in the death overs, particularly across the 16th, 17th, and 20th. Their calculated aggression, combined with a few extras conceded, lifted West Indies past the 190 mark and set India a stiff target of 196.
Among the bowlers, Bumrah’s 2/36 proved crucial, while Chakaravarthy and Hardik Pandya chipped in with a wicket each. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel maintained control through the middle overs, but the late assault ensured India faced a demanding chase.
In the end, though, it was Samson’s masterclass that defined the contest, an innings of poise, precision, and power that carried India into the semi-finals with authority.
Sanju Samson (Player of the Match):
“It means everything to me because this is the moment I dreamt of from the day I started playing cricket, and my journey with all its ups and downs has made this day even more special, as there were times I doubted myself, but I kept believing, and I am grateful to the Almighty for this blessing. During the innings, I relied on the experience gained from many years in this format and from watching legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma closely, learning how they finish games and adapt to different situations. Last match was about setting a huge total, but today was completely different because once wickets started falling my focus shifted to building a partnership and sticking to my process without thinking of doing anything extraordinary. The crowd gave incredible energy but there is always a small fear of what if things do not go well, so whenever that thought came, I brought myself back to the present and trusted my reactions. I am truly thankful, and this will remain one of the greatest days of my life.”
India vs West Indies T20 World Cup: Playing XI
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
West Indies: Shai Hope (c), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph.
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