NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson produced what can only be described as an innings of a lifetime as he took the England bowlers to the cleaners in the crucial semifinal 2 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

Opening the batting, the 31-year-old started in a similar fashion to the way he did against West Indies earlier in the tournament.

Despite Abhishek Sharma departing early after scoring just 9 runs, Samson continued to pile the pressure on the opposition bowlers and kept the scoring rate high.

A blistering knock sets the tone for India

Samson went on to smash a magnificent 89 runs off just 42 deliveries, an innings laced with 8 fours and 7 towering sixes. His aggressive strokeplay ensured that India got the perfect start in this do or die encounter against England.

However, Samson narrowly missed out on a well deserved century as his brilliant innings finally came to an end. He was dismissed on a flighted delivery from Will Jacks, chipping the ball in the air while attempting a big shot and getting caught at deep extra cover.

As he walked back to the pavilion, the crowd rose to its feet and gave him a standing ovation for what was a truly memorable knock that will be remembered for a long time.

Fans on social media also saluted the sensational effort from Samson, whose remarkable innings has laid the foundation for a massive total for India in this crucial semifinal clash.

Here's how fans reacted: