Former Indian cricket captain and current Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president, Sourav Ganguly, has made a bold statement about Sanju Samson's recent performance. After witnessing Samson's heroic 97-run innings, Ganguly praised his skills, saying, 'He's a very good player and should consistently play for India in white-ball cricket.'
Samson's unbeaten 97 runs off 50 balls were instrumental in India's five-wicket win over the West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s. This victory secured India's place in the semifinals, where they will face England. Ganguly's comments come as a surprise, as he has previously been known for his critical stance on Samson's selection.
The match in Kolkata was a must-win for both India and the West Indies, as both teams were tied on points in the Super 8s table. With this win, India now faces a strong English side in the semifinals. Ganguly's praise for Samson highlights the player's potential to impact the game when he gets set, and he believes Samson can seriously damage the opposition.
The match itself was a thrilling affair. India won the toss and elected to field first. Despite a strong opening stand by Roston Chase and Shai Hope, the West Indies slipped to 119/4 in 14.1 overs. However, Shimron Hetmyer's fiery cameo helped them recover to 195/4 in 20 overs. India's leading bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, took 2/36 in four overs, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Hardik Pandya also contributed.
In the run chase, India was reduced to 41/2 within the powerplay. A 58-run stand between Samson and Suryakumar Yadav brought them back on track. Samson then stitched partnerships with Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube, guiding India to a five-wicket win. This performance has undoubtedly earned Samson a place in the Indian team for future white-ball matches.
Ganguly's comments have sparked debate among cricket fans, with some agreeing that Samson deserves more opportunities. However, others believe that his selection should be based on consistent performance rather than one outstanding innings. The controversy surrounding Samson's selection continues, and many are eager to see how this plays out in the upcoming matches.
