When the pressure peaked and expectations rose, Sanju Samson delivered the kind of innings that warranted the kind of international stature he carries. His unbeaten 97 during India's Super 8 match against West Indies on Sunday in Kolkata not only anchored the chase but also sealed India’s qualification for the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026. For head coach Gautam Gambhir, the knock was not a surprise.

"He's a world-class player; we all know how good a player Sanju is. It was all about backing him. When the team needed him the most, obviously today was the day, he showed his true potential. And this is the time for him to kick off," Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.

What stood out most was Sanju's control. He crafted his innings with poise, timing, and a deep understanding of match situations. Gambhir spoke about the signs he had observed in the nets long before this innings materialised.

"I actually thought that he never accelerated the innings. It was just very normal cricketing shots, and I never saw him muscling the ball as well. That is the kind of talent he has. When you know you are in control of the game and feeling good. He is hitting the ball very well in the nets, and it's about going in the middle and showcasing that skill," Gambhir noted.

Gambhir also highlighted the Indian bowler's relentless pressure on West Indies batters in the powerplay that largely sealed the match for the team.

"I thought we started off really well, especially when you play this kind of a game of this magnitude. You've got to start off really well with the new ball, which Arshdeep and Hardik did," Gambhir said.

"I think the way they started off in the first three overs was really good, and then Axar bowled two overs in the powerplay, which was again a great job done by him. It's never easy on this wicket on their ground to bowl two overs in a powerplay, but Axar did that really well," he said.

"The powerplay didn't go away from us, which was very important because once the powerplay goes away from you, it's very difficult to contain."