Deccan to Durban: Sanju Samson becomes 1st Indian to hit back-to-back T20I hundreds

Sanju Samson had to wait nine years after making his debut for his maiden hundred in the T20I format. For his second, he needed just 27 days. Samson became the first Indian batter and only the fourth in the world to hit hundreds in back-to-back T20I matches. Samson had hit a 47-ball 111 in Hyderabad on October 12 against Bangladesh in India’s last T20I assignment. He continued from where he left in Deccan to hit a 47-ball hundred in the T20I series opener against South Africa in Durban.

Sanju Samson looked at his confident best on Friday, November 8 as he put the South African attack under pressure. India lost young opener Abhishek Sharma early, but Samson and captain Suryakumar Yadav unleashed the big ones in the powerplay, helping India score 56 runs in the first six overs. Samson hit 35 runs off just 20 balls in the powerplay, making his intentions clear from the word go.

SA v IND, 1st T20I: Live Reactions

A total of 11 Indian batters have scored hundreds in T20I cricket and only four of them have managed to do so more than once. Sanju Samson joined his captain, Suryakumar, his former captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in an elite list of Indian batters with multiple T20I hundreds in their careers.

Samson was equally severe against fast bowlers and spin bowlers as he tore into the South African bowling attack. The Kerala batting superstar hit 7 boundaries and 9 sixes in his belligerent knock that set the tone for India’s potential big total in the series opener at Kingsmead, Durban.

BATTERS WITH BACK-TO-BACK T20I HUNDREDS

1. Gustav Mckeon – France
2. Rilee Rossouw – South Africa
3. Phil Salt – England
4. Sanju Samson – India

More to follow….