T20 World Cup: India beat West Indies by five wickets – updates

Samson leads India to a semifinal place, where they will take on England in Mumbai on March 5.

We hope you enjoyed our coverage today, and on behalf of Hafsa Adil, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.

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— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2026

Here’s a brief look back at the tense Super Eights match in Kolkata.

We resume our coverage of the T20 World Cup with the first semifinal on Wednesday.

New Zealand take on an unbeaten South Africa in Kolkata for a chance at the final in Ahmedabad on March 8.

The build-up gets under way at 10:30 GMT, before the live commentary of the match at 13:30 GMT.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 🤩

The #T20WorldCup 2026 semi-finals are locked 🔒

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— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 1, 2026

The cricket may be over, but there is still plenty of football action to take in.

Head over to our live coverage of the Premier League, as league leaders Arsenal host cross-town rivals Chelsea.

The match is currently deadlocked at one-all, with about half an hour to go in regulation time.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav spoke after the match: “Obviously, it is a great feeling. Everyone said it was a do-or-die match. The way the boys showed character was a great thing.

“Good things happen to good people who wait and who have a lot of patience. He [Sanju Samson] has put the hard work behind the doors. He got the fruit for it at the perfect stage. The way he batted today took the side to victory.

“I feel everyone bowled according to the plans. We knew 200 was a good score to chase here in Eden [Gardens] with the dew and the way the ball comes on to the bat.

“The way the batters responded with small partnerships helped take the game deep.

“The way we played from the first game, we deserved that [semifinal] spot, and that too in Mumbai. Now we rest up, relax, and when we reach Mumbai, we will start to think about it.

“Expectations will always be there, but you need to know what you want to do on the field. But at the same time, when a game like this comes, you have to be more courageous and positive.

“When there is no pressure, there is no fun – we can’t run away from it. There are butterflies in the stomach, but it is how you understand it and take it, which is most important.”

West Indies skipper Shai Hope spoke at the post-match presentation: “[We were] Maybe a few [runs] short, especially on a chasing ground like this. We could have got more [runs] in the back-end.

“We didn’t start the way we wanted with the bat, but to get to 190 was special. Got to give credit to Sanju [Samson].

“Yeah, again, he [Jasprit Bumrah] is one of their main strike bowlers. Whenever he has the ball in his hands, something is always going to happen.

“Hetty [Shimron Hetmyer] was going well, and if he got on, he could have got a big score today.

“I thought we were good [with the ball]. The way we bowled in the tournament, and how we adjusted to the conditions. We played a lot of our games in Mumbai and Kolkata. We took wickets in the powerplay.

“[Matthew] Forde was excellent with the new ball, Akky [Akeal Hosein] got wickets at the top. [Gudakesh] Motie bowled well. We just couldn’t get over the line today.

“You never want to end [the tournament] at this stage. One more game and we would be [in] the semis, and if things go well, then on to the final for the big one.

“When you come to a tournament, the aim is to win. We set high standards for ourselves. We also know the opposition is coming at us. You have to play consistent cricket and win those crucial moments in the game.

“We didn’t do enough today to cross the line.”

We will have quotes from the captains to follow.

With South Africa beating Zimbabwe by five wickets earlier today, they top Group 1 with four points. India secure the second spot with four points.

The Proteas will now take on New Zealand on March 4 in Kolkata. India will face England on March 5 in Mumbai.

The winners then meet in Ahmedabad in the final on March 8 to decide the fate of this 2026 T20 World Cup.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 🇮🇳#TeamIndia are semi-finals bound in the #T20WorldCup 👏

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— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2026

With a sparkling unbeaten 97 off 50 balls, Sanju Samson is the Player of the Match. Here is what he had to say after the match: “It means the whole world to me.

“Right from the day I started playing, started dreaming of playing for the country, this is the knock I was waiting for.

“I have had a very special journey. Had a lot of ups and downs. Kept doubting myself, thinking will I make it? But I am thankful to the Almighty for blessing me today.

“I’ve been playing this format for many years. [I have] Learned from a lot of the greats like [Virat] Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni. That helped with my experience.

“I’ve noticed how the greats play, and seen how they change their game according to situations.

“Last game we were batting first, so I was going from ball one, but this game it was different. Every time I tried to go too high, we were losing wickets.

“Didn’t think I would play this special knock, but yeah, this is one of the greatest days of my life. Just stayed in the present and played the ball on its merit.”

Samson, who is playing his third match of this tournament, is the hero of a billion.

He carries his bat to guide India to a famous victory over a strong West Indies lineup.

India lost two wickets in the opening powerplay but were able to find the odd boundary to keep in line with the required rate.

Contributions from Suryakumar (18), Tilak (27) and Hardik (17) ensured they were in the hunt throughout, despite the massive expectations placed upon them.

Holder and Joseph were the pick of the West Indies bowlers, finishing with 2 for 38 and 2 for 42, respectively.

India seal the #T20WorldCup 2026 semi-final spot with an emphatic victory over West Indies 👏

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— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 1, 2026

Samson clubs Shepherd’s second ball over the man at mid-on to take India into the 2026 T20 World Cup semifinals!

He finishes unbeaten on 97 off 50 balls, an innings that he will never forget.

Shepherd is handed the task of bowling the final over.

But with an almighty swat over the deep square leg rope, Samson levels the scores in Kolkata off the very first ball.

They are allowed only four fielders outside the 27-metre (30-yard) circle, which will suit India just fine.

Dube waits on a fuller one outside, opening the face to guide it through backward point for another boundary.

This is a valuable cameo from the lower-order batter.

The batters then scramble two off the last ball, allowing Samson to retain strike for the final over.

Just seven needed now in the final over for India to book their place in the semifinals.

Joseph, looking for the yorker, ends up offering a low full toss.

Dube, who is new to the crease, is able to cart it away into the gap at deep mid-wicket for four.

That shot brings the Kolkata faithful back on their feet.

Joseph is thrown the ball for the penultimate over, and he delivers second ball.

He gets Hardik to miscue his shot to the man at extra cover.

Eden Gardens is stunned into silence as the big-hitting Shivam Dube marches out.

Hardik Pandya c Jason Holder b Shamar Joseph 17(14)

Eight runs come off the over.

India now need 17 off 12.

Samson cuts off the back foot, beating the man at backward point for a boundary.

He goes past Virat Kohli’s 82 against Australia in 2016 and Pakistan in 2022 to become the highest run-scorer for India in a T20 World Cup chase.

He begins with two singles off his first three balls.

The West Indies know a couple of dots will build some pressure here.

Shepherd, trying to avoid delivering anything in the hitting arc, ends up dishing three wides in the over.

Hardik finishes the over with a whippy tonk over the extra cover region for four.

India now need 25 off 18 to seal a semifinal spot.