India, March 2 -- India cricket legends were left in absolute awe on Sunday after Sanju Samson carved out a chasing masterclass at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata to book India's semifinal berth. The opener scored an unbeaten 97 to dictate the pursuit of 196, sealing victory with five wickets in hand and four balls to spare.

The last 15 months have been a rollercoaster for Samson. He struck centuries in South Africa in 2024, then lost form, lost his opening slot amid a shift in India's T20I plans, was dropped, returned as a late addition to the World Cup squad, struggled again, and found himself back on the bench. It seemed destined to be a repeat of 2024, until circumstances forced India to rethink their combination.

With a zen-like...