‘This should go to him’ – Sanju Samson dedicates POTM award to ‘world class’ Jasprit Bumrah after India’s semi-final triumph

India’s opening batter Sanju Samson has heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah’s death bowling prowess following the team’s nervy seven-run victory over England in the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, March 5.

Samson continued his good run, scoring 89 off 42 deliveries to take the Men in Blue to a mammoth 253. England, however, gave it a good go and fell just seven runs short in the end despite a valiant maiden T20I hundred from Jacob Bethell.

Samson was rightly awarded the Player of the Match award for his impact up the order. The 31-year-old, however, believed that Bumrah was a worthier candidate than him given his match-winning death-over spell. 

“So yeah, very happy how the team turned up today, and all credit goes to Jasprit Bumrah. I think he is a world-class bowler, once in a generation bowler, I think that’s what he delivered today. I think this should go to him, actually. 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, how they backed themselves in the tough conditions,” Samson said during his post-match interview. 

Bowling the 16th and the 18th over, the right-arm fast bowler conceded 14 runs combined, with his final over going for just six runs. The 32-year-old ended the game with figures of 1 for 33, picking up the important scalp of England captain Harry Brook. 

Sanju Samson lauds India’s intent after being put into bat

Samson credited the way Ishan Kishan and himself played after India were put into bat by England. Despite losing an early wicket of Abhishek Sharma, the dynamic left-hand right-hand duo carried on attacking the bowlers to forge a 97-run partnership off just 45 balls. 

“As I said before, I think you need to assess the conditions. We have played a lot of cricket here in Wankhede, as I said before, chasing becomes a bit easier here. They won the toss, put us into bat, so we knew after the way we batted, the way myself and Ishan batted, the partnership which we had for after Abhishek got out, I thought that I think 250 should be, I think, possible here,” Samson added. 

India will now face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday, March 8, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad with the eye on becoming the first men’s side to retain the T20 title.