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Sanju Samson celebrates his half century during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and West Indies, at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, West Bengal. (PTI Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Kolkata: Moments after hitting the winning boundary, Sanju Samson took off his helmet and dropped to his knees to thank the almighty. Relief washed over the face of the right-hander who fired India into the T20 World Cup semifinals with a breathtaking knock. Even before the crowd could capture the winning moments, “Vande Mataram” played at full volume as the Indian dugout rushed out to celebrate what was a top run-chase under pressure. “Lehra Do” was up next and the laser lights joined the act as the announcer egged the crowd on. The party was only getting started in Kolkata after India (199/5) beat West Indies (195/4) with four deliveries to spare. Until a week ago in Ahmedabad, Sanju Samson was nowhere close to the Playing XI as India were happy with the two left-handers Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma as their two openers. However, the consistent off-spin threat, which led to early wickets, forced the think-tank to rework its strategy and bring Samson, a right-hander, back to the top of the order. He had lost his spot to an in-form Kishan but the tactical call forced the left-hander down to No.3 and left-right was restored.

The move worked in the must-win game against Zimbabwe in Chennai earlier this week as it not only gave India a brisk start but also kept spin away. Although spin was introduced early in Kolkata and India lost two early wickets, Samson unlocked his maximum potential when the team had its back to the wall. Chasing a stiff target, the right-hander played an unforgettable knock to help India advance to the semi-final of the multi-nation tournament. He drove well, cut fiercely and exhibited big-match temperament in front of a capacity crowd at the Eden Gardens. Pace or spin, Samson took them down with aplomb and never lost shape in the process. He hit the ball where it was meant to be hit but his ice-cool nerves stood out during his 50-ball 97*, which included 12 boundaries and four sixes.The pitch had a lot of dew and the absence of demons made batting less difficult; however, the scoreboard pressure of the virtual quarter-final made it a daunting task. Wickets falling from the other end didn’t change Samson’s approach; he continued to operate at a healthy strike-rate and kept the asking rate in check. The partnership with Suryakumar Yadav put the chase on track after the early wickets, giving it the much needed push with the breezy 42-run stand, off only 26 balls, with Tilak Varma.

Sanju Samson plays a shot during the T20 World Cup Super 8 Group 1 match against West Indies at Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. (ANI)

When Hardik Pandya joined Samson, the equation was under control: 55 runs were needed off 32 balls. With batting to follow, India controlled the game from that point. Samson and Pandya put India in striking distance of the win, with Samson helping India cross the line with five wickets in hand.Earlier, after electing to field first, India’s fielding was a major disappointment, and the group let the bowlers down in excellent batting conditions. Three misfield boundaries, two dropped catches and one missed run-out opportunity cost India dearly as they were not able to peg the high-flying West Indies batting line-up back with regular breakthroughs. The situation wasn’t alarming by any means at the halfway mark, as the bowlers kept the score down to 82/1. The scoreboard could have been much worse had they taken the catch and capitalised on the run-out opportunity but it was nowhere near panic territory.Both Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy had three overs left, and Suryakumar Yadav’s smart bowling changes gave India a tactical edge going into the second half of the innings. The West Indies signalled intent as they took 17 runs off Chakaravarthy’s second over. Body language dropped ever so briefly because Eden Gardens was about to erupt in the 12th over, bowled by Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of Roston Chase during the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and West Indies in Kolkata. (AP)

Two wickets, including that of the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer, got the crowd roaring and ‘Boom Boom Bumrah’ chants reverberated in the stands every time the bowler stood on top of his mark. He had the matchup advantage over the left-hander and dismissed him in just two deliveries, adding another wicket with a slower ball that completely deceived the well-set Roston Chase. From 102/1, the scoreboard became 103/3 in the space of a couple of deliveries and India did what assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate expected: fight fire with fire.When the hosts circled for the final drinks interval of the innings at the end of the 14th over, the scoreboard showed a controlled 119/3, but India still had to get a Hardik Pandya over out of the way. During the break, head coach Gautam Gambhir went straight to the all-rounder and discussed the angle he could explore against Sherfane Rutherford. Pandya executed the plan perfectly, dismissing the left-hander off the first delivery to put India in a commanding position.125/4 with just five to play wasn’t a bad position, especially with four overs from Bumrah and Arshdeep, and one from Chakarvarthy remaining. Heavy dew started to settle in but one would have backed them to do the job in those crunch situations.

West Indies’ Rovman Powell and Jason Holder run between wickets during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Group 1 match against India at Eden Gardens Stadium, in Kolkata on Sunday. (ANI)

What unfolded, however, in the next five overs was a very calculated muscular assault from Rovman Powell and Jason Holder; together, they added 70 runs in the next 30 deliveries, taking down Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Chakarvarthy in the process.Bumrah conceded 26 runs in his last two overs, Chakarvarthy conceded 14, and Arshdeep leaked 30 from his remaining two overs. The 16th over, bowled by Arshdeep, swung momentum West Indies’ way as 24 runs came off it. The left-armer looked out of sorts, conceding two sixes, five wides and two more wides, causing shoulders to drop in the field. Bumrah gave it his all in the two remaining overs and his reaction after Varun let a ball go for a boundary summed up the overall performance in the field. Which was a big let down on their biggest evening of the tournament till date.However, a special Samson plastered all the cracks to book a semi-final date with England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5.Brief Scores: West Indies 195/4 in 20 overs (Roston Chase 40, Jason Holder 37, Rovman Powell 34; Jasprit Bumrah 2-36)India: 199/5 in 19.2 overs (Sanju Samson 97; Jason Holder 2-38)

Global oil markets are heading into a volatile phase as escalating tensions in the Middle East raise fears of supply disruption through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, with analysts warning that crude prices could surge sharply if the conflict deepens.Khamenei’s death, confirmed by Iranian state media earlier, triggered warnings about strong retaliation from Tehran. US President Donald Trump said the 86-year-old leader was killed on the first day of what he described as massive joint airstrikes.

The escalation has intensified concerns around the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, through which more than 20% of global oil supply moves. Heavy missile activity near the region has heightened fears of supply constraints, pushing oil prices higher.US WTI crude rose 3.19% to $67.29 per barrel, while Brent crude reached $72.87 on Friday, even before the weekend escalation amplified geopolitical risks.

Barclays flags $100 oil risk

Barclays on Saturday raised its forecast for Brent crude to $100 per barrel, warning markets could face severe disruption risks.“Oil markets might have to face their worst fears on Monday. As things stand right now, we think Brent could hit $100 (per barrel), as the market grapples with the threat of a potential supply disruption amid a spiraling security situation in the Middle East,” the bank said in a report.The revised outlook followed initial US-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, with tensions intensifying further after the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Ali Vaez, who heads the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, said Iran’s geographic position makes the situation particularly sensitive. “Even limited disruption could spike energy prices, fuel inflation, and rattle global markets,” he said in a post on X.

Oil’s familiar crisis pattern

Equirus Securities said oil markets historically react sharply during geopolitical crises before stabilising.“Pattern is consistent: Oil overreacts first, embeds a geopolitical risk premium, and then gradually adjusts as trade flows reroute & fundamentals reassert themselves. Real forecasting challenge is not predicting the initial spike but estimating how long disruption and embedded premium will persist,” the brokerage noted, ET quoted.It cited the Russia–Ukraine war as an example, where crude briefly surged above $120 per barrel before retreating as supply routes adjusted.However, the brokerage warned that risks could turn structural if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is threatened.“Even partial disruption risk could embed a $20–$40/bbl geopolitical premium, reopening a pathway toward $95–$110+, well beyond mechanical impact of Iran’s barrels alone,” it added.

India faces inflation risks

Higher oil prices pose immediate macroeconomic challenges for India, a major crude importer.Manoranjan Sharma, Chief Economist at Infomerics Ratings, said elevated energy costs could widen external imbalances. “Elevated import costs are likely to widen the current account deficit and further strain the fiscal deficit through increased subsidy obligations,” he said.Madhavi Arora, Chief Economist at Emkay Global Institutional Equities, added that tensions could also disrupt shipping and increase freight and insurance costs even without a full blockade.“As per our preliminary checks, India’s crude and LNG supplies are largely intact, and India has buffers in the form of diversified imports, strategic reserves and operational stocks, helping absorb short-term shocks,” she said.She added that if tensions ease and OPEC+ output rises, macroeconomic damage could remain contained. “If however the situation normalizes with OPEC+ also indicating a sharp output increase (0.4mb/d), and oil doesn’t spike and fall below $70/bbl, the macro impact could be contained,” Arora said.

Market impact on Dalal Street

On Dalal Street, oil marketing companies are expected to remain in focus as crude prices climb. Refinery stocks could benefit from rising oil prices, while tyre and paint companies may face pressure because petroleum derivatives form a key part of their input costs.With geopolitical risks now driving sentiment, analysts say the trajectory of crude prices will depend largely on whether disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz intensify or global supply routes continue to function normally.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran’s new leadership wants to talk to him and that he agreed, according to an interview with The Atlantic magazine.“They want to talk, and I agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should do it sooner. They should give what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long,” Trump said in the interview from his Florida residence.Trump did not specify who he would speak with or say whether it would occur on Sunday or Monday but noted that some of the Iranians involved in negotiations in recent weeks were no longer alive.

“Most of those people are gone. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone, because that was a big—that was a big hit,” he said. “They should have done it sooner, Michael. They could have made a deal. They should’ve done it sooner. They played too cute.”Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a leadership council composed of himself, the judiciary head, and a member of the powerful Guardians Council temporarily assumed the duties of supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.When asked whether he was willing to prolong the US bombing campaign against Iran to support a popular uprising if one unfolded, “Will they continue to get support if it takes some time to overthrow the regime?” Trump was noncommittal. “I have to look at the situation at the time it happens, Michael. You can’t give an answer to that question,” he said. But the President also expressed confidence that a successful uprising was coming, noting the signs of celebration in the streets of Iran and supportive gatherings of expatriate Iranians in New York and Los Angeles. “That is going to happen. You are seeing that, and I think it’s going to happen. A lot of people are extremely happy over there and in Los Angeles and in many other places,” he said. Trump told the magazine that he was pleased with Iranian people’s reaction so far. “Knowing it’s very dangerous, knowing I told everybody to stay in place—I think it’s a very dangerous place right now,” he told me. “The people over there are shouting in the streets with happiness, but at the same time, there are a lot of bombs coming down.”