India set up England semi-final at T20 World Cup

With the pressure of 50,597 clad in blue packed into the stands at Eden Gardens, and the weight of a nation on their shoulders, Samson played a stellar hand for an India team bidding to defend the trophy they won in 2024.

This would have been the kind of chase that Virat Kohli would have masterfully approached in the past - one where temperament was as pertinent a factor as talent.

Samson toppled the pillars of the West Indies bowling attack in a methodical manner - expertly picking his moments to attack and increase the tempo of the chase with ruthless calculation.

There were four sixes but the the risk-free control of 12 fours, which barely got off the carpet, emphasised T20 cricket's most important muscle is the mind not the bicep.

Samson's deftness to use the crease to arrow square drives through backward point were particularly eye-catching.

"I have been playing this format for a long time and learning from the greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma," Samson said in his post-match interview after being named player of the match.

"It is important to observe. I never felt I would do something like this. This is one of the greatest days of my life."

Samson has three T20 international hundreds to his name but the career of the Kerala man - who studied an English literature degree - has been a tale of the unexpected after periods in and out of the India side.

In fact this was just his third match of the World Cup following modest returns of 22 and 24 against Zimbabwe and Namibia.

After he had whipped Shepherd over the square-leg boundary for six, Samson chipped the West Indies seamer over the head of mid-on to seal a memorable victory and possibly the iconic moment of his career.

He then fell to his knees, crossed himself and looked to the heavens.

While Samson is not necessarily Kohli's heir, he had got India across the line by a hair's breadth in the manner of the India batting legend.

"It means the whole world to me. From the day I started playing, this is the day I was waiting for. I have had a special journey and doubted myself at times, but I kept believing," Samson added.

England are next.