After playing a match-winning knock against England in the semi-final of the 2026 T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson won the hearts of the fans with his gesture for Jasprit Bumrah. Samson was bestowed with the Player of the Match award for smashing 89 off just 42 balls in the must-win game. Samson credited Bumrah for India's win and stated that the award should go to the senior pacer. Bumrah spent 33 runs in his four-over spell. He proved to be the game-changer in the death overs. Bumrah only spent eight runs in the 16th over. He didn't let Sam Curran and Jacob Bethell bat freely in the 18th over and only gave six runs.
"Very happy how the team turned up today and all credit goes to Jasprit Bumrah. I think the world-class bowler, once in a generation bowler, I think that's what he delivered today. I think this should go to him actually. So I think if we didn't bowl that way in the death overs, I think I would not be standing here. All credit goes to the bowlers how they backed themselves in the tough conditions," Samson said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Sanju Samson is enjoying a purple patch in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Photo: AP
Samson, who wasn't part of the playing XI at the start of the tournament, got an opportunity in place of a struggling Rinku Singh. He also played the second game against Namibia but was dropped when a fit-again Abhishek Sharma made his return in the playing XI.
Samson has piled up 232 runs in only 4 matches in the ongoing ICC event. He has a solid average of 77.33 and a strike rate of 201.73. Bumrah has 10 wickets in 7 matches. He has bowled at an economy rate of 6.62.
India vs New Zealand on March 8
India will face New Zealand in the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup on Sunday (March 8). The fixture will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad from 7:00 PM IST. India are two-time T20 WC Champions while NZ have never won this title. They lost to Australia in the final of the 2021 T20 WC.
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Rishav Narang is an experienced writer with nine years of experience in sports journalism. He extensively writes on cricket and covers live matches, b...View More
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