Sanju Samson Surpasses Rohit Sharma, Equals Virat Kohli With 89-Run Blitz In T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final !
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Sanju Samson smashes 89 vs England in T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final, equalling Virat Kohli’s record and surpassing Rohit Sharma for most sixes in a single edition.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson produced a stunning batting display in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England, smashing a blistering 89 runs and rewriting multiple records during the high-voltage clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Samson’s explosive innings helped India post a massive total of 253 for seven in 20 overs, putting England under immense pressure in the knockout encounter.
The Kerala batter continued his dream run in the tournament, following up his unbeaten 97 against West Indies in the Super 8 stage with another match-defining performance.
Samson Equals Kohli’s T20 World Cup Knockout Record
During his 89-run knock, Samson equalled a long-standing record held by Virat Kohli for the highest score by an Indian batter in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
Kohli had earlier scored 89 off 47 balls against West Indies in the semi-final of the 2016 T20 World Cup*, a record that had stood for a decade.
Samson came agonisingly close to surpassing the mark and scoring a century but was dismissed after a sensational innings that electrified the crowd at Wankhede Stadium.
Record-Breaking Six-Hitting Feat
The innings also saw Samson break another significant record previously held by Rohit Sharma.
Samson surpassed Rohit’s tally for the most sixes hit by an Indian batter in a single T20 World Cup edition, underlining his aggressive batting throughout the tournament.
Most Sixes For India In A Single T20 World Cup Edition
- 16 – Sanju Samson (2026)
- 15 – Rohit Sharma (2024)
- 15 – Shivam Dube (2026)
- 14 – Ishan Kishan (Indian cricketer, 2026)
- 14 – Hardik Pandya (2026)
- 12 – Yuvraj Singh (2007)
Samson’s innings featured seven towering sixes and eight boundaries, as he dominated England’s bowling attack with fearless strokeplay.
India’s Batting Fires On All Cylinders
After being sent in to bat, India’s top and middle order contributed with quickfire knocks, helping the team pile up a mammoth total.
Apart from Samson’s 89, several Indian batters chipped in with crucial runs:
- Shivam Dube – 43
- Ishan Kishan – 39
- Hardik Pandya – 27
- Tilak Varma – 21
The aggressive batting approach kept the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace throughout the innings, leaving England’s bowlers struggling to contain the run flow.
England Bowlers Struggle
For England, the bowlers found it difficult to control India’s aggressive batting lineup.
Will Jacks and Adil Rashid were the only bowlers who managed to pick up two wickets each, finishing with figures of 2/40 and 2/41 respectively.
However, their efforts were not enough to stop India from posting one of the highest totals in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
Samson’s Golden Run In The Tournament
Samson has been one of India’s standout performers in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
His fearless batting style and ability to dominate bowlers during crucial moments have played a key role in India’s journey to the semi-final stage.
The 29-year-old’s performances have also strengthened his reputation as one of India’s most destructive T20 batters.
With his latest innings, Samson not only matched a record set by Kohli but also surpassed Rohit Sharma in the six-hitting charts, highlighting the impact he has made in the tournament.
Brief Scores
India: 253/7 in 20 overs
- Sanju Samson 89
- Shivam Dube 43
- Ishan Kishan 39
England Bowling:
- Will Jacks 2/40
- Adil Rashid 2/41
With a massive total on the board, India now look to their bowlers to seal a place in the final and continue their quest for the T20 World Cup title.
