Sanju Samson Smashes 46-Ball 89, Surpasses Virat Kohli in T20 World Cup Final

Sanju Samson produced a stunning knock in the T20 World Cup final, smashing 89 off just 46 balls to script one of the finest innings in the tournament’s history.

Playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the wicketkeeper-batter powered India national cricket team to a strong position against New Zealand national cricket team with a blend of composure and attacking strokeplay. Samson’s explosive effort is now among the highest individual scores recorded in a T20 World Cup final.

Highest Individual Scores in a T20 World Cup Final

Marlon Samuels – 95 vs England (2016)

Sanju Samson – 89 vs New Zealand (2026)

Kane Williamson – 85 vs Australia (2021)

With this innings, Samson also joined an exclusive list of players to score half-centuries in both the semi-final and final of the same T20 World Cup edition. Before him, the feat had only been achieved by Shahid Afridi during Pakistan’s triumphant 2009 campaign and by Virat Kohli for India in 2014.

Samson paced his innings intelligently. After an attacking start from Abhishek Sharma at the top, he ensured India maintained the momentum. He reached his fifty in 33 balls, rotating strike effectively while finding the boundary at regular intervals. Once settled, Samson accelerated, taking on the bowlers with clean hitting.

He found solid support in Ishan Kishan, with the pair adding a brisk 50-run partnership off just 26 deliveries. The stand pushed India beyond the 150-run mark by the 12th over and kept the pressure firmly on the New Zealand attack.

Samson eventually finished with a magnificent 46-ball 89, underlining his impact on the big stage. The knock was also his third successive 50-plus score in the tournament, placing him among elite names such as Mahela Jayawardene, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, KL Rahul, Kusal Mendis and Sahibzada Farhan to record three consecutive 50-plus scores in a T20 World Cup.