Sanju Samson Surpasses Virat After His Prolific Knock
Sanju Samson delivered a record-breaking knock under pressure and then spoke candidly about the mental battle behind it. His unbeaten 97 in a tense T20 World Cup chase not only carried India into the semifinals but also made him the country’s highest individual scorer in a run chase at the tournament, surpassing Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 82s from previous editions. Chasing a stiff target in a knockout clash, Samson played with control and clarity. His 50-ball innings featured 12 fours and four sixes. He stayed till the end. India crossed the line with four balls to spare. After the match, Samson admitted that doubt tried to creep in during the chase. “There is always a question — what if not? So definitely that keeps on playing in your mind,” he said. But he found a way to shut out the noise. “When that thought kept on coming, I just brought myself into the present moment, looked at the ball and trusted myself to react according to its merit. I think that worked out pretty well today.” He credited years of observation for his calm approach. Samson has been around the Indian setup for nearly a decade and has spent over ten years in the IPL. Even when he was not in the playing XI, he was learning. “I have not always been playing, but I have been watching from the dugout, learning from greats like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, all the greats,” he said. Watching how senior players handled chases shaped his mindset. “It’s very important to observe and learn and see what they are doing. I think that really helped me,” Samson added. “I’ve seen how the greatest players finish games and how they change their approach according to the situation.” He described the innings as one of the finest moments of his life. The 97 is now the second-highest score by an Indian in T20 World Cup history, behind only Suresh Raina’s 101 in 2010.
Bangladesh Women Prepare To Make History Leaving Millions Social and Political Hurdle
After a prolonged fight for existence, the Bangladeshi women’s football team will embark on the journey of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. In a country with a population of over 170 million prevalent with social stigma and conservative attitudes and mostly pushing the girls away from sports, qualification itself is a landmark event. While talking to AFP, the national team captain, Afeida Khandaker, stated, “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive.” It is a known scenario for rural Bangladeshi girls to be discouraged and harassed for playing football. “Girls often had to quit football after primary school,” Khandaker said. “Neighbours would complain about how teenage girls could play football while wearing shorts.” Beyond criticism, many face pressure to marry before turning 18. Local league player Ennima Khanom Richi, 20, told AFP that several teammates were forced into arranged marriages. “Families often cannot bear the social pressure, so they stop their girls from playing,” she said. Beyond public criticism, many young women also face intense social pressure to marry before they turn 18. Ennima Khanom Richi, a 20-year-old local league footballer, told AFP that several of her teammates were pushed into arranged marriages while still in their teens. She said some had little choice in the matter, forced to leave the sport just as their careers were beginning to take shape. “My sister and I both wanted to be footballers, and for that my parents, especially my mother, had to endure bitter words,” Khandaker said, recalling the criticism her family faced for allowing their daughters to pursue the sport. Her father, Khandaker Arif Hossain Prince, pointed to the economic realities behind many untold stories. “Some of their parents are rickshaw pullers, labourers, or tea vendors… Some cannot afford it and quit football,” he told AFP, underlining how financial hardship often forces talented girls to walk away from the game. Still, change is visible. Mahfuza Akter Kiron, head of the women’s wing of the Bangladesh Football Federation, reflected on how recent the journey has been. “We didn’t even have a national women’s team before 2008,” she said. “It was a real struggle for them to play football.” That struggle extended beyond infrastructure. Coach Saiful Bari Titu described it as “a privilege” to even speak about the current team. “They faced a lot of protests,” he added, acknowledging the social resistance that once shadowed women’s football in the country. Now, as Bangladesh prepares to take on nine-time champions China, Khandaker remains grounded about the scale of the challenge ahead. “China and North Korea are far ahead of us in the rankings… but we will give our best,” she said, balancing realism with resolve.
WI Skipper Acknowledges Sanju’s Prolific Performance After India’s Win
Shai Hope did not hesitate in acknowledging the difference-maker Sanju. Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97 powered India to a five-wicket win over West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 knockout at Eden Gardens. The West Indies captain called it an “A-plus” innings and admitted his side had been outplayed. Hope conceded that while the surface aided stroke play under lights, Samson’s execution stood out. “He played really well. It’s a good pitch, especially at night when you’re chasing here. But you can’t take anything away from him. He’s a quality, experienced player and he showed that today,” Hope said, as quoted by the International Cricket Council. Chasing 196 in a must-win contest, Samson blasted 97 off to steer India national cricket team into the semifinals. The victory sealed India’s place in the last four, where they will face England cricket team on March 5. He added that Samson controlled the tempo from start to finish. “He paced it beautifully. He was smart, calculated and very clear with his stroke selection. You have to give him full credit even if we wish it hadn’t come against us.” Earlier, West Indies posted 195/4 after being asked to bat. Hope (32 off 33) and Roston Chase (40 off 25) added 68 for the opening wicket, but the innings lost momentum as wickets fell in the middle overs. A late surge from Jason Holder (37* off 22) and Rovman Powell (34* off 19) revived the total, with the pair smashing 76 runs in just 35 balls to lift West Indies to a competitive finish. For India, Jasprit Bumrah returned figures of 2/36, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Hardik Pandya claimed one wicket each. The chase began shakily, with India slipping to 41/2 in the powerplay. Samson then rebuilt alongside Suryakumar Yadav in a 58-run partnership before taking charge. He found support from Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, guiding the side home with composure and authority.
