‘Sanju Samson, kya baat hai’: Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad can’t stop praising Indian opener | India vs West Indies

Ahmed Shehzad announced he would leave the Geo TV show if India lost to the West Indies. He praised India's strong cricket structure and highlighted Sanju Samson's match-winning innings.

Sounak Mukhopadhyay
Updated2 Mar 2026, 08:04 AM IST
‘Sanju Samson, kya baat hai’: Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad can’t stop praising Indian opener | India vs West Indies
‘Sanju Samson, kya baat hai’: Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad can’t stop praising Indian opener | India vs West Indies(Screengrabs from YouTube/Ahmad Shahzad/Star Sports)

Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad said he would leave the Geo TV show Harna Mana Hai if India did not beat the West Indies on 1 March. He disagreed with Mohammad Amir, who had predicted that India would lose.

Ahmed Shehzad (2014, vs Bangladesh) was Pakistan's only centurion in the T20 World Cups. This year, Sahibzada Farhan did it twice for Pakistan.

On his YouTube show, Shehzad teased Amir for his failed predictions. He said India should never be taken lightly because of the team’s strong cricket structure.

Also Read | Sanju Samson: ‘Learned from the greats like Virat Kohli, from Rohit Sharma’

“I told you, Amir Baba, didn’t I? Today, all your predictions failed. I warned you not to take India lightly. India build its players through a strong structure. Indian players know how to control their nerves under pressure. The bowling may not be extremely strong, but the batting is very powerful,” he said.

Shehzad, on the Geo TV show, praised India’s ability to handle pressure. There’s no bigger pressure than an India vs Pakistan match. And the Men in Blue have repeatedly championed that pressure, he said. On his YouTube show, Shahzad repeated that.

“Sometimes it works in your favour to peak in the big matches. India will not just play the semifinal; I believe they will reach the final too. Leaving everything aside, in terms of skill and sport, they are a formidable team. And today, Sanju Samson was simply outstanding,” Shehzad said.

Also Read | Sanju Samson: Indian opener surpasses Virat Kohli in historic run-chase

Ahmed Shehzad on Sanju Samson

Ahmed Shehzad could not stop praising Sanju Samson after the Indian opener’s match-winning innings. According to Shehzad, a player who performs like that still does not always get enough chances.

Sanju Samson, kya baat hai!” Shahzad said.

Shehzad reminded everyone that Samson had scored 2 T20 centuries in South Africa against their full-strength bowling attack. In many countries, such performances would secure a player’s place for many years.

But, in India, competition is so tough that players are dropped after a few failures. Even in this World Cup, Samson did not play every match.

Also Read | T20 WC: Netizens compare Sanju Samson's 97 vs WI to that of Sachin Tendulkar

Shehzad said this match could have been Samson’s last opportunity. However, his unbeaten 90-plus knock in such an important game has taken his career to a new level. He praised Samson’s composure, timing and strong game awareness.

“In the post-match interview, he said he watched Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for 10 years from the best seat. He learned how they would build and finish matches. Today, he applied those lessons on the field,” the Pakistani cricketer said.

“That is why he called it one of the happiest days of his life. He finished the match for his country and helped them reach the semifinals. To deliver under such pressure when chances are so limited is remarkable,” he added.

About the Author

Sounak Mukhopadhyay covers trending news, sports and entertainment for LiveMint. His reporting focuses on fast-moving stories, box office performance, digital culture and major cricket developments. He combines real-time updates with clear context for everyday readers. <br><br> Sounak brings newsroom experience across breaking news, explainers and long-form features. He has a strong emphasis on accuracy, verification and responsible storytelling. His work tracks audience behaviour, celebrity influence and the business of sport and cinema. He helps readers understand why a story matters beyond the headline. <br><br> Sounak has contributed to widely read digital publications. He continues to build a body of journalism shaped by consistency, speed and editorial clarity. He is particularly interested in the intersection of media, popular culture and public conversation in contemporary India. <br><br> At LiveMint, he writes daily coverage as well as analytical pieces that interpret numbers, trends and cultural moments in accessible language. His approach prioritises factual depth, balanced framing and reader trust. The reporting aligns with modern newsroom standards of transparency and credibility. <br><br> Outside daily reporting, he explores storytelling across formats including podcasts, filmmaking and narrative non-fiction. Through his journalism, Sounak aims to document the rhythms of modern entertainment and sports while maintaining rigorous editorial integrity. <br><br> Sounak continues to develop audience-focused journalism that connects speed with substance in a rapidly-changing information environment. His work seeks clarity, trust and lasting public value in every story he reports.

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