India booked their place in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup with a thrilling five-wicket victory over West Indies at the iconic Eden Gardens on Friday night. Chasing a stiff target of 196, the Indian team held its nerve in a high-pressure contest, riding on a sensational unbeaten knock from Sanju Samson to cross the finish line with four balls to spare.

With this win in the final Super 8 match, India sealed a spot in the last four and will now face England in the semifinal scheduled for March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium.

West Indies Post a Competitive Total

Asked to bat first after losing the toss, West Indies started cautiously but steadily. Openers put together a solid platform, reaching 45 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket. The first breakthrough came in the ninth over when Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Shai Hope for 32 off 33 balls, ending a promising opening stand of 68 runs with Roston Chase.

India clawed their way back into the game courtesy of Jasprit Bumrah, who turned the momentum with a brilliant double strike in the 12th over. He removed Shimron Hetmyer (27 off 12 balls) and Chase (40 off 25 balls), halting West Indies’ acceleration.

Despite losing wickets, the Caribbean side finished strongly. Rovman Powell and Jason Holder unleashed a late assault, adding an unbeaten 76-run partnership in just 35 balls. The duo collected 70 runs in the final five overs, pushing the total to 195/4 — a challenging score on a lively surface.

India’s Chase Wobbles Early

India’s reply did not begin smoothly. Akeal Hosein struck early, dismissing Abhishek Sharma for 10 in the third over. Soon after, Jason Holder sent back Ishan Kishan for another 10, leaving India at 44 for 2 after five overs.

With pressure mounting, Samson stepped up and changed the tempo of the chase. Playing with composure and controlled aggression, he brought up a blazing half-century in just 26 balls, peppering the boundary with six fours and three sixes.

Sanju Samson Steals the Show

India crossed 98 runs at the halfway mark, but the game remained delicately poised. The dismissal of Suryakumar Yadav for 18 in the 11th over added tension to the chase. Samson, however, found able support from Tilak Varma, with the pair stitching together a vital 42-run stand.

Tilak’s departure for 27 and later Hardik Pandya’s dismissal for 17 meant India still needed 17 runs off the last 10 balls. The match went down to the final over, with seven required for victory.

Displaying nerves of steel, Samson smashed a six off the first delivery to level the scores and followed it up with a crisp boundary to seal the win in emphatic fashion. He remained unbeaten on 97 off 50 balls, producing one of the finest knocks of the tournament.

What This Win Means for India

The victory not only sends India into the semifinals but also boosts confidence ahead of a blockbuster clash against England. Samson’s form, combined with India’s depth in both batting and bowling, makes them formidable contenders for the title.

For West Indies, despite the loss, their fighting spirit and late-order hitting once again highlighted why they remain one of the most dangerous T20 sides in world cricket.