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Hailing him as a true generational talent, Sanju Samson dedicated his Player of the Match award to Jasprit Bumrah following the pacer's stellar performance in India's T20 World Cup semifinal victory over England on a batting paradise here on Thursday. On a day when every bowler was smashed around the Wankhede Stadium, Bumrah stood out with exceptional figures of 1/33 in four overs while turning the match India's way with his special show towards the end. Samson, who laid the foundation for India's massive total of 253/7 with his 42-ball 89, said the award belonged to Bumrah, without whose magnificent bowling the wicketkeeper-batter wouldn't be "standing here" in the first place. "All credit goes to Bumrah, I think the world class bowler, a true once in a generation player. I think that's what he delivered today. I think this award should go to him actually. "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,
Sanju Samson is relieved to have produced two superlative innings to carry India into the final of the T20 World Cup, but he is not done yet and aims to play another match-winning knock to help India win the trophy for a record third time. Samson, who had lost his spot in the Indian team due to lack of runs not long ago, has come back roaring with scores of 97 not out in a virtual knockout against the West Indies followed by 89 against England in the semifinal, especially when Abhishek Sharma is going through a lean patch. Samson said while he is grateful, his toil must help the defending champions India lift yet another title with a win over New Zealand in the summit clash on Sunday in Ahmedabad. "It feels really great or relieved that I have been actually, from (a) few years, trying to do something like this for my country," Samson told reporters after India beat England by seven runs in the second semifinal here Thursday night. "(I was) just waiting with lot of patience, lot of
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav on Sunday said opening batter Sanju Samson got the reward for his hard work with an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies, adding that India deserved to be in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup. India beat the West Indies by five wickets to set up a semifinal date with England, to be played at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on March 5. "Obviously it's a great feeling. It was like a quarterfinal game. The way the boys showed character, it was a great thing," Suryakumar told the broadcaster after the match. "I always say good things happen to good people who wait. It's all his hard work that he was doing when he wasn't playing and now he's got the fruit," he replied when asked about Samson's innings. "The way we played from the first game, I think we deserve to be there in Mumbai. But we won't think of it now. We will take the flight, get to Mumbai and see what to do. When there is no pressure, there is no pressure," he added. Suryakumar said India wanted to take t