‘Rulayega kya pagle?’ – Suryakumar Yadav’s appreciation for Sanju Samson creates heartwarming moment post IND vs WI match

Captain Suryakumar Yadav has shared massive words of appreciation for Sanju Samson after the latter’s thunderous 97 not out against the West Indies in a virtual quarter-final of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Samson’s knock helped the Men in Blue stage a record run chase in the tournament’s history and make it to the semi-finals of the twenty-team event.

Suryakumar Yadav has said that Samson stepped up exactly when the team wanted him to and played a magical innings under pressure. Despite being an irregular feature in the playing XI, the wicketkeeper-batter proved what experience means, and the same was acknowledged by Suryakumar during a candid chat after the match alongside the man himself.

“I always say good things happen to good people and at the right time. No better time, no better stage for someone like him to step up and give the team what it requires. The moment he came into the side, the first thing which he said amongst the group when we sat together was, ‘Let’s do something which the team wants, not what you want.’ I think that comes with experience, and also, over our lives, we’ve seen so many things, so many ups and downs,” Suryakumar said via BCCI.tv.

The Men in Blue captain, who himself played a brisk cameo of 18 in the chase, said that it is extremely difficult for someone like Samson to give his best during a crunch situation while playing in a multinational tournament.

“I think I don’t want to take you back to what happened in the whole year, losing his position, batting out of position and then coming back batting at the same position; it’s not easy. That too in the World Cup. The World Cups, the ICC tournaments, and the games which we play in ICC tournaments are won by courageous people. This was a courageous knock,” the Indian skipper added.

The 35-year-old further added that it was very easy to lose a wicket on a surface at the Eden where the pitch was doing something every now and then. However, the way Samson held the fort strong from his end ensured that the Indian team made it through and defeated a strong Shai Hope-led side on Sunday night.

“He can already get carried away by a good start, but then the way he was batting, he held one side together and took the team through, and he deserves all the credit. I am very happy for him. His wife, his family back home and all the people who love him and support him. We are just one more step closer. Hopefully, this may continue,” Suryakumar concluded.

For the unversed, India will now face England in the second semi-final of the tournament on March 5 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

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