Record Breaker! Sanju Samson scripts history, takes India to T20 World Cup final

Mumbai, 2 July 2026 — In a night destined to be etched into Indian cricket folklore, Sanju Samson unleashed a career-defining 89 off 42 balls to propel India into the T20 World Cup final, equalling Virat Kohli’s tournament record for the highest score by an Indian in a knockout match. The right-hander’s pyrotechnics at a boisterous Wankhede Stadium dismantled England and capped a personal redemption arc that few could have scripted better.

Walking in after a cautious Powerplay, Samson took immediate ownership of the chase, peppering the arc between long-on and deep extra-cover with a flurry of boundaries. His final tally—eight fours and seven sixes—fuelled a strike rate of 211.90, the most explosive by an Indian wicket-keeper in World Cup knockout history. The innings mirrored Kohli’s iconic 89 not out against West Indies at the same ground in the 2016 semi-final, but Samson reached the mark one delivery quicker, underlining the belligerence of his approach.

The knock extended a purple patch that began in Kolkata during the Super Eight stage, where Samson’s unbeaten 97 against West Indies sealed India’s passage to the last four. Across four matches in this tournament, the Kerala batter has amassed 232 runs at an average of 77.33 and a scarcely believable strike rate of 201.73, compiling two half-centuries en route.

Samson’s assault also rewrote the record for most sixes by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup edition. His 16 maximums eclipsed Rohit Sharma’s benchmark of 15 set in 2024, while Shivam Dube has matched the previous mark this year. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya are close behind with 14 each, illustrating the evolved hitting ethos of the current squad.

With the final looming, India will take heart from the knowledge that their wicket-keeper-batter has not merely found form—he has found immortality.