Suryakumar Yadav backs Sanju Samson’s claim that Bumrah deserved Player of the Match: ‘This award should go to him’

Sanju Samson said that it was Jasprit Bumrah who deserved the Player of the Match and not him in the semi-final victory over England in the T20 World Cup 2026, and India captain Suryakumar Yadav backed the claim by stating that the senior pacer “pulled the game away” from Harry Brook’s team at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

India will be playing against New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (8 March). They made their way to the final by beating England by seven runs in a thrilling semi-final in which Samson was declared the Player of the Match for scoring a blistering 89 runs off 42 balls as India posted a first innings total of 253/7.

Jacob Bethell was England’s best batter as he smashed 105 in just 48 balls, but it was Bumrah’s disciplined bowling under pressure that allowed India to secure a narrow seven-run win.

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In his final two overs in the death, Bumrah conceded just 14 runs and finished with impressive match figures of 1/33 in a very high-scoring match.

Once Samson was awarded the Player of the Match trophy, he was quick to give the credit to Bumrah, stating that the pacer was who deserved the award and without his contribution, India would not have defeated England.

“..Very happy how the team turned up today and all credit goes to Jasprit Bumrah, the world class bowler, once in a generation bowler,” Samson said. “I think that’s what he delivered today. This (award) should go to him, actually. If we didn’t bowl that way in the death overs, I think I would not be standing here. All credit goes to the bowlers, how they backed themselves in the tough conditions.”

India captain Suryakumar was asked about Samson’s comments on Bumrah and whether the pacer should have been named the Player of the Match. SKY was quick to reply in affirmation as he admitted that Bumrah was the most important match-winner.

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“Absolutely. I mean, you know how capable he is, what he has done over the years for India,” he said

“And he did the same thing today. Raised his hand again, showed character, pulled the game away from them. And I think it was a special bowling performance,” SKY added.