T20 World Cup 2026: ‘This was the knock of the World Cup’ - Sadagoppan Ramesh hails Sanju Samson’s match-winning brilliance

Former Indian cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh praised Sanju Samson for finally living up to his potential and delivering a match-winning performance in the T20 World Cup 2026 clash against West Indies in Kolkata. Facing a stiff target of 196 in what was effectively a virtual quarterfinal, the Men in Blue found their hero in Samson, who remained unbeaten on 97 off just 50 balls.

His composed yet aggressive knock guided India home in the final over, sealing a crucial victory and booking their place in the semifinals. The wicketkeeper-batter’s innings came at a vital time, especially considering his lean run in T20Is prior to this match, where he had managed just one half-century in his previous 22 appearances.

"It was the first time he played to his full potential and won India a match. A player who should have been on top of the mountain was hovering around mediocrity for too long. He has the ability to reach greater heights from this point, and hopefully, he doesn't miss it. This was the knock of the World Cup. This is what fans have been asking from Sanju for a long time. If he plays to his potential like this, he can singlehandedly win so many matches,” said Ramesh on Instagram.

"West Indies must have focused mainly on Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. But an out-of-form Sanju came out of focus for them. They made a grave error by not focusing on him. There was a huge change in Sanju's batting last night. Normally, when he smashes a six, he will go for another boundary and lose his wicket in the 20s. But this time he took a single after a big hit and kept planning the chase over and over in search of a big innings,” he added.

Ramesh also heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah for delivering crucial breakthroughs that shifted the momentum of the game. With West Indies cruising at 99/1 after 11 overs following a blazing start, Bumrah struck twice in quick succession to derail the Caribbean side’s innings. His double blow not only halted their scoring surge but also allowed India to regain control at a pivotal stage of the contest.

"Whenever there is a problem, the ball goes to him. When they were 99/1 in 11 overs, the West Indies must have dreamt of a total of around 220 to 230. Just when India desperately needed a wicket, Bumrah applied the sudden break in the West Indian innings with a double strike. The wicket of Hetmyer was especially important, and it showed that India should never fear when Bumrah is there," said Ramesh.