Sanju Samson made an early statement with the bat in the second T20I against the West Indies in Ranchi on Friday. Opening the innings for India, the wicketkeeper-batter reached his half-century in just 21 balls, equalling the record of batting great Virat Kohli.

Samson brought up the milestone at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, equalling Kohli’s fastest-fifty record for India in T20Is against the West Indies. Kohli had scored a 21-ball half-century against the same opposition in Mumbai on December 11, 2019.

The quick start was a welcome change for Samson, who could not make much of an impact with the bat in the first T20I of the series.

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Sanju Samson Joins Virat Kohli on the Record List

Samson wasted little time getting going in Ranchi. He struck six fours and three sixes on his way to a 21-ball fifty, putting the West Indies bowlers under pressure during the powerplay.

His aggressive batting also helped India get off to a flying start. Samson added 42 runs for the opening wicket with Abhishek Sharma, who scored 20 runs. India finished the first six overs at 79/1.

With his half-century, Samson joined Kohli at the top of India’s list for the fastest fifties against the West Indies in men’s T20Is.

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Fastest T20I fifties by Indian batters vs WI

PLAYER BALLS VENUE DATE
Virat Kohli 21 Mumbai (WS) December 11, 2019
Sanju Samson 21 Jharkhand October 9, 2026
Rohit Sharma 22 Lauderhill August 27, 2016
Rohit Sharma 23 Mumbai (WS) December 11, 2019
Suryakumar Yadav 23 Providence August 8, 2023

Quinton de Kock Holds the Overall Record

While Samson matched Kohli’s Indian record, the overall mark for the fastest fifty in men’s T20Is against the West Indies belongs to South Africa’s Quinton de Kock.

De Kock reached his half-century in just 15 balls against the Caribbean side in Centurion in March 2023. Australia’s Tim David is next on the list, having taken 16 balls to score a fifty against the West Indies in Basseterre in July 2025.

David Warner and Colin Munro have also registered 18-ball half-centuries against the West Indies.

Fastest Fifties in Men’s T20Is Against West Indies

PLAYER TEAM BALLS VENUE DATE
Quinton de Kock South Africa 15 Centurion March 23, 2023
Tim David Australia 16 Basseterre July 25, 2025
David Warner Australia 18 Sydney February 23, 2010
Colin Munro New Zealand 18 Mount Maunganui January 1, 2018
Mark Chapman New Zealand 19 Auckland May 6, 2025
Dasun Shanaka Sri Lanka 19 Kingston June 14, 2026
Mohammad Ashraful Bangladesh 20 Johannesburg September 13, 2017
Paul Stirling Ireland 20 St George’s January 15, 2020
Liam Livingstone England 20 Tarouba December 19, 2023
Ben Duckett England 20 Southampton June 10, 2025
Virat Kohli India 21 Mumbai (WS) December 11, 2019
Sanju Samson India 21 Jharkhand October 9, 2026

Samson's 82 helped India to put a mammoth 249 against WI

Kerala wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson smashed 82 off 41 balls as India amassed 249 for five against the West Indies in the second T20I. After being asked to bat,  India were also well served well by Ishan Kishan's 22-ball 43, skipper Shreyas Iyer's 18-ball 40 and Tilak Varma's 18-ball 44.

Roston Chase was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies, returning with impressive figures of 3/24 in 4 overs.