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By K.R. Nayar From Eden Gardens Kolkata.  Sanju Samson’s match-winning unbeaten knock of 97, which carried India into the semifinal by overcoming the West Indies at the Eden Gardens, was a treat to the fans of this City of Joy. It was an innings played with immense maturity, and an announcement that he was not just a big hitter. Every stroke had timing, every defence had a purpose, and every run he scored revealed his command over the West Indies bowlers. He played that innings when Eden Gardens hummed with nervous energy following the fall of a few wickets, including that of his skipper, Suryakumar Yadav. Sanju Samson thanks  the Almighty after his match winning knock. Photo: ICC Samson made the ball obey his command Though Samson had once, during an exclusive interview with this writer, while talking about the strength with which he hits sixes, had said: “I always remind myself of my name. Samson was considered the strongest man in the world (according to the Bible). I k...

By K.R. Nayar From Eden Gardens Kolkata. As the ICC T20 World Cup tiptoes into its final week, many unexpected incidents are happening — as unexpected as some of the results of the matches. The US–Israel–Iran war and the attacks on Middle Eastern countries have created tension for the organisers, though fans here are focused on the oncoming matches. A statement from the ICC expressed its concern and said that players, team management, match officials, broadcast teams, and event staff rely on Gulf hub airports, particularly Dubai, and that ICC security consultants are liaising with the relevant authorities to plan their course of action. In Kolkata, the main talking points among cricket fans were about the Friday earthquake and the India–West Indies . The giant screen at the Eden Gardens. Photo by K.R. Nayar  Earthquake and cricket fans An earthquake before an important cricket World Cup match is not something fans expect to happen. While the hurricane after the 2024 ICC ...