Sanju Samson blazed an aggressive 82 off 41 balls — laced with nine fours and four sixes — to power India to a commanding 249/5 against the West Indies in the 2nd T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, on Friday, 9 October 2026. The opening blitz set the tone for what became one of India's highest T20I totals of the series.

Samson's Knock and His Mindset

Samson, who has faced scrutiny over a recent run of low scores, was unapologetic about his attacking philosophy. He insisted there was only one way to bat as an India opener — with aggression — and refused to let previous failures alter his approach.

'Being a professional cricketer playing for India, you definitely take care of the professional side of it. You do your preparation, you do your practice, you do your training, you do everything possible in your hands. But, to be very honest, we all know in this format the result is not in your hands, but there is only one way to go,' Samson said after the innings.

He elaborated further: 'You can't say I've had three bad innings, so let's take some time, let's build my innings, and then we will see. No, there is only one way to go. I think the team comes first. My job is to just give a great start for my country, and I try to do that. I take responsibility when I get out also, so that's totally fine, and I'm taking the blame on me.'

How India Built the Total

Ishan Kishan contributed a brisk 43 off 22 balls before being dismissed by Roston Chase, the off-spinner who also removed Shivam Dube for seven. Samson's innings ended when Shamar Springer took the wicket, with Kamil Pooran completing the catch in the deep. India weathered a brief middle-order wobble before Shreyas Iyer hit a quickfire 40 off 18 deliveries and Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 44 off just 18 balls to push India past 249.

Reading the Ranchi Surface

Samson acknowledged that conditions at the JSCA International Stadium Complex were not straightforward, with the ball skidding through and occasionally staying low. A net session at the venue the previous day helped him prepare for the surface quirks.

'I got to bat yesterday in the centre, so we could understand a bit that the ball might skid a bit and stay a bit low. It was staying a bit low and skidding through, but we just had one wicket to go. I think we just had to go for it, and things came off nicely today,' he said.

West Indies Still a Threat, Samson Warns

Despite India's imposing total, Samson sounded a note of caution about the West Indies' batting firepower, highlighting the powerplay as a critical battleground in the chase.

'It's a brilliant score, to be very honest, but, as you know, the West Indian batters are very strong, and they can definitely put on a show. So we need to be switched on, and I think the powerplay plays a huge role in these kinds of games,' he added. Notably, this is the second successive high-scoring India innings in the series, underscoring how the shorter format rewards fearless intent from the top order.