India coach Gambhir admits 'special effort' needed to beat England in semi-final

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/samson-sanju/nH19FPur/"]Samson[/a] timed his innings to perfection as the defending champions chased down 196 in the winner-takes-all Super Eights clash [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/india-fcOzl2uI/west-indies-jTD1lMfO/summary/stats/?mid=fqh3yxaB"]to win by five wickets in front of 67,000 fans at Eden Gardens[/a].[/p][p]Samson played only one group stage game, against Namibia, scoring 22, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] opted mainly for the double left-hand opening combination of Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma.[/p][p]He was brought back into the side in the previous Super Eights match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/zimbabwe/pCUnmKBm/"]Zimbabwe[/a] to provide a right-handed option at the top of the order.[/p][p]Samson scored 24 and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gambhir-gautam/OnhAxG8q/"]Gambhir[/a] saw enough to keep faith with him against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-indies/jTD1lMfO/"]West Indies[/a].[/p][p]The coach was rewarded with a sparkling knock containing 12 fours and four sixes as he made an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls in India's 199-5.[/p][p][b]"We all know how good a player Sanju is," [/b]Gambhir told a post-match news conference.[/p][p][b]"It was all about backing him, and when the team needed him the most.[/b][/p][p][b]"Obviously, today was the day when he probably showed his full potential.[/b][/p][p][b]"I have always said that he is a world-class player. He is a great talent, and hopefully he can kick on from now, and we can see a lot more innings like this."[/b][/p][embed guid="38d66dcf-c63b-4ad4-b1b4-36a5fecf9078" url="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2028167331202076970" social-type="twitter" /][p]India now move on to Mumbai's Wankhede stadium and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/england-UJC5mtAU/india-fcOzl2uI/?mid=0bdZsIom"]a semi-final on Thursday against England.[/a][/p][p]Harry Brook's side won all their Super Eight matches and have been ominously improving as the tournament gets to the sharp end.[/p][p][b]"Look, they're a world-class team, they're a quality team, they've got a lot of quality players as well,"[/b] Gambhir said when asked by AFP for his thoughts on the semi-final match-up.[/p][p]The Wankhede stadium will present very different conditions to Kolkata, and that will mean new challenges, said Gambhir.[/p][p][b]"We all know that playing at the Wankhede is a tough game, but it's another opportunity to do something special for the team and for the country.[/b][/p][p][b]"Hopefully, we play our best game, that is going to be very important, and we can keep ticking all the boxes."[/b][/p][p]He noted that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]England[/a] were dangerous and growing in confidence, so nothing less than 100 per cent would be good enough if India are to progress to next Sunday's final in Ahmedabad.[/p][p][b]"That is going to be important," [/b]Gambhir said.[/p][p][b]"Because we will need a special effort to beat a quality side like England."[/b][/p]