Sanju Samson played the best innings of his life, but India are not playing good cricket overall: Mohammad Amir

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir, who had earlier predicted that India wouldn’t advance to the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026, has heaped praise on the opening batter Sanju Samson.

Samson, who opened the innings against the West Indies, went on to score an unbeaten 97-run knock at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to knock WI out of the campaign with the hosts advancing to the semi-final.

Despite India making it to the knockouts, Amir didn’t completely back down from his prediction. While speaking on the ‘Haarna Mana Hai’ show, Amir stated that Samson played the best innings of his life, but added that India isn’t playing good cricket overall, stating that they looked a bit poor with the ball and on the field.

"You said they have proved me wrong. Look, where credit is due, it should be given. Sanju Samson played the best innings of his life. I have seen his knocks in the IPL and other matches, but this innings - and that too in a do-or-die game, a knockout - was special," Amir said on Haarna Mana Hai.

"But if I analyse it purely from a cricketing point of view, India are not playing good cricket overall. I am still telling you - just check their fielding. They dropped three to four catches and fumbled in the field. Apart from Bumrah, every other bowler is getting hit. India are playing on the strength of just one bowler," he added.

Shifting our focus to the details of the match, the West Indies were tasked to bat first after losing the toss as they posted a whopping total of 195/4 in 20 overs, thanks to Roston Chase's 40, Rovman Powell's 34*, and Jason Holder's 37*.

In the chase, India sealed the deal in 19.2 overs with five wickets in hand. Sanju Samson was the wrecker-in-chief with a 97-run unbeaten knock off 50 balls with 12 fours and four sixes.

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