Sanju Samson breaks Rohit Sharma’s T20 World Cup record with blistering knock vs England

Sanju Samson delivered a sensational performance in the semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, smashing a powerful 89 off just 42 balls against England men’s national cricket team at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The explosive innings helped India seize early momentum in a high-stakes clash and also saw Samson break a long-standing record previously held by Rohit Sharma.

Despite losing opening partner Abhishek Sharma early in the innings, Samson maintained an aggressive approach from the outset. The Kerala batter took the English bowling attack head-on, combining power hitting with calculated strokeplay to dominate the scoring rate.

Samson also enjoyed a slice of luck during his innings when Harry Brook dropped a catch when he was on 16 runs. The missed opportunity proved costly for England, as Samson capitalised fully and launched a relentless assault on the bowlers.

Samson breaks Rohit Sharma’s six-hitting record

During his explosive knock, Samson smashed seven sixes, taking his total to 16 sixes in the ongoing 2026 edition of the tournament. With that, he surpassed Rohit Sharma’s previous record of 15 sixes in a single T20 World Cup edition, which the former Indian captain achieved in the 2024 tournament.

The record now places Samson at the top of the list for the most sixes by an Indian player in a single T20 World Cup campaign.

Most sixes by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup edition

Interestingly, Shivam Dube is also close to the milestone with 15 sixes in the same tournament and could surpass Rohit Sharma’s tally during the final. India are scheduled to face New Zealand national cricket team in the championship match on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

A comeback story for Samson

Samson’s journey in 2026 has been far from smooth. He was initially selected ahead of Shubman Gill in India’s T20 World Cup squad but struggled to make an impact during the five-match T20I series against New Zealand national cricket team earlier in the year. His inconsistent performances led to him being dropped from the playing XI.

However, the team management later made a tactical adjustment midway through the tournament, promoting Samson back to the opening position. The move paid immediate dividends as the wicketkeeper-batter rediscovered his form, delivering match-winning performances including an unbeaten 97 followed by the crucial 89-run knock in the semifinal.

Samson reflects on his challenging phase

Speaking after the match, Samson admitted that he had faced a difficult phase earlier in the year. He said he had tried too hard during the New Zealand series to secure his place in the team but eventually realised the importance of trusting his fundamentals.

According to Samson, T20 cricket can often be unpredictable, even for the best players in the world. By focusing on his basics and maintaining composure, he was able to regain his rhythm and contribute to the team’s success on the big stage.

His resurgence has not only strengthened India’s batting lineup but also highlighted his ability to deliver under pressure in crucial matches.