India Won by 5 Wickets vs West Indies – Into T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals
India did it. In front of 50,597 roaring fans at Eden Gardens, India chased down 196 with 4 balls to spare to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals. West Indies are out. India are through.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 52nd Match, Super 8s, Group 1 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Date | 1 March 2026 |
| Toss | India won, elected to field |
| Result | India won by 5 wickets (4 balls remaining) |
| West Indies Score | 195/4 (20 overs) |
| India Score | 199/5 (19.2 overs) |
| Attendance | 50,597 |
Match Overview
This was everything a do-or-die knockout cricket match should be. West Indies posted a threatening 195/4, powered by a brilliant lower-order blitz from Rovman Powell (34*) and Jason Holder (37*) who added 76 runs in the final six overs. India’s chase wobbled early — 41/2 inside five overs — but Sanju Samson held the innings together with one of the great World Cup knocks, finishing unbeaten on 97 off just 50 balls. India crossed the line with 4 balls to spare and the stadium absolutely erupted.
West Indies fought brilliantly. They deserved more from this tournament. But tonight belonged to India and Sanju Samson.
West Indies Innings – Powell and Holder’s Late Blitz
West Indies built solidly through Hope and Chase before losing three wickets in quick succession. At 119/4 in the 14th over, 195 looked unlikely. Then Powell and Holder happened.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roston Chase | 40 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 160.00 |
| Shai Hope (c) | 32 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 96.96 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 27 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 225.00 |
| Rovman Powell | 34* | 19 | 3 | 2 | 178.94 |
| Jason Holder | 37* | 22 | 2 | 3 | 168.18 |
Powell and Holder’s unbroken 76-run stand off just 20 balls was breathtaking. Holder’s 37 off 22 in particular — three sixes included — lifted West Indies from a recoverable 150 to a genuinely dangerous 195. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout Indian bowler with 2/36, while Varun Chakravarthy and Hardik Pandya picked up one each.
India Bowling Summary:
- Jasprit Bumrah: 4-0-36-2
- Varun Chakravarthy: 4-0-40-1
- Hardik Pandya: 4-0-40-1
- Axar Patel: 4-0-35-0
India Chase – Sanju Samson’s Match-Winning 97*
India’s chase started nervously. Abhishek Sharma gone for 10, Ishan Kishan gone for 10 — 41/2 after 4.3 overs. The target of 196 suddenly looked very big.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanju Samson | 97* | 50 | 12 | 4 | 194.00 |
| Tilak Varma | 27 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 180.00 |
| Hardik Pandya | 17 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 121.42 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 18 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 112.50 |
| Shivam Dube | 8* | 4 | 2 | 0 | 200.00 |
Samson reached his fifty off just 26 balls and never looked like getting out. His partnership with Suryakumar Yadav (18) steadied things, before Tilak Varma came in and attacked from ball one — 27 off 15 balls was exactly what India needed in the middle overs. When Pandya fell for 17 in the 18th over with India still needing 17, hearts were in mouths. But Samson and Dube sealed it calmly.
97 not out. One of the best innings ever played in a knockout T20 match on Indian soil. He deserved the century — the match ended before he could get there.
West Indies Bowling Summary:
- Jason Holder: 4-0-38-2
- Shamar Joseph: 4-0-42-2
- Matthew Forde: 3-0-22-0
- Romario Shepherd: 2.2-0-34-0
India Are Through – What This Means
India qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals from Super 8s Group 1. They join England and New Zealand — who already sealed their spots from Group 2 — in the last four. The fourth semi-final spot will be decided by the remaining Group 1 result. Check the latest ICC Men’s T20 WC 2026 standings for the final confirmed picture.
The semi-finals and Final are being hosted in India — meaning India could play their knockouts in front of home crowds all the way to the end. The kind of scenario every Indian cricket fan dreams about.
West Indies Exit – Unlucky But Outplayed Tonight
West Indies gave everything. Powell and Holder’s late assault was world-class. Holder’s two wickets kept them in the hunt deep into the chase. But Samson was simply unstoppable. West Indies exit a tournament they could easily have gone deeper in — their campaign showed real quality across all departments. For the full look at how both squads performed, visit the T20 World Cup 2026 team pages.
Semi-Finals – What’s Next for India
India will now face one of England or New Zealand in the semi-finals, with all knockout games confirmed to be held in India. The venues and fixture dates will be announced shortly — track every confirmed update on the T20 WC 2026 upcoming schedule.
Here’s a quick look at the confirmed semi-finalists so far:
| Team | Group | Status |
|---|---|---|
| England | Super 8s Group 2 | ✅ Qualified |
| New Zealand | Super 8s Group 2 | ✅ Qualified |
| India | Super 8s Group 1 | ✅ Qualified |
| TBC | Super 8s Group 1 | Pending |
India vs whoever comes through — at home, in India — is going to be something very special. Keep up with all the latest T20 World Cup 2026 news as the semi-final draw is confirmed.
FAQs
Q1. Did India qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals? Yes. India beat West Indies by 5 wickets at Eden Gardens on 1 March 2026 to officially qualify for the T20 WC 2026 semi-finals.
Q2. Who was India’s top scorer vs West Indies in the Super 8s? Sanju Samson scored an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls — 12 fours and 4 sixes — in a match-winning innings that guided India home.
Q3. What was West Indies’ final score against India? West Indies posted 195/4 in 20 overs. India chased it down in 19.2 overs, finishing on 199/5.
Q4. Who were the top wicket-takers for India vs West Indies? Jasprit Bumrah took 2/36, while Varun Chakravarthy and Hardik Pandya each claimed one wicket.
Q5. Where will India play their T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final? India’s semi-final will be hosted in India, as all T20 WC 2026 knockout matches including the Final are confirmed to be played in India.
Q6. Who are the confirmed semi-finalists in T20 World Cup 2026? England, New Zealand, and India are confirmed. The fourth semi-finalist is yet to be decided from Super 8s Group 1.
