‘Kab debut hua tha?’ – Axar Patel teases Sanju Samson after match-winning knock in Kolkata

Indian opener Sanju Samson was at the center of some light-hearted banter from teammate Axar Patel following India’s thrilling Super Eight win over West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026. India chased down a challenging target of 196 to secure a five-wicket victory and book their place in the semifinals, where they will face England on March 5 at Wankhede Stadium.

At one stage, India were in trouble around the 11th over during the chase. However, Samson anchored the innings brilliantly, remaining unbeaten on 97 off just 50 deliveries. His knock, which included 12 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 194, ensured there were no late hiccups as India crossed the line with four balls to spare.

As the team travelled to Mumbai for the semifinal, Axar, who serves as India’s vice-captain, cheekily asked Samson whether he felt relieved after the sensational performance and how he was feeling. While praising the wicketkeeper-batter for his match-winning effort, Axar ended with a humorous remark that left Samson smiling and had Suryakumar Yadav bursting into laughter alongside him.

“Chetta, finally. Kab debut hua tha? (Brother, finally. When did you make your debut?),” Axar asked on Snapchat.

Samson made his T20I debut in 2015 against Zimbabwe, but despite being in the international circuit for over a decade, he has struggled to cement a permanent spot in India’s shortest-format setup. Across 60 T20Is, he has shown flashes of brilliance, including three centuries, yet a defining performance on a global stage had long been awaited.

That moment finally arrived in the T20 World Cup 2026, where Samson delivered a match-winning 97* in a crucial run chase. In the process, the wicketkeeper-batter etched his name into the record books by surpassing Virat Kohli’s record for the highest individual score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup run chase. Kohli had previously held the record with two iconic knocks of 82, against Australia in 2016 and Pakistan in 2022.

Samson’s unbeaten 97 is now the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase and stands as the second-highest individual score overall for India in the tournament’s history. The only higher score remains Suresh Raina’s 101 against South Africa in 2010.

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