Sanju Samson showcased his aggressive batting style, echoing his century against Bangladesh on October 12 at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, by leading India to a resounding win in the first T20 match against South Africa at Durban’s Kingsmead.
In a breathtaking display, Sanju smashed 107 runs off just 50 deliveries, becoming the first Indian and only the fourth cricketer in the world to achieve back-to-back T20 centuries. His dynamic innings lit up the stadium, drawing loud chants of “Sanju-Sanju” from Indian fans.
India Sets a Record Total
Sanju’s explosive innings, highlighted by a century completed in 47 balls compared to 40 in Hyderabad, propelled India to 202/8 in 20 overs—their highest-ever T20 score against South Africa. In reply, South Africa was bowled out for 141 in 17.5 overs, handing India a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. Sanju’s brilliance earned him the Player of the Match award.
Mastering the Spinners
Targeting South Africa’s spinners, Sanju confidently opened his scoring with a four off Aiden Markram and struck sixes against Keshav Maharaj and others, amassing 58 runs against the spinners and hitting six of his 10 sixes off their deliveries. He formed crucial partnerships: a 66-run stand with captain Suryakumar Yadav (21) and a 77-run contribution with Tilak Verma (33).
A Strong Case for Opening
Despite years of IPL success, opportunities in the national team were limited for Sanju. After Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20s, Sanju seized the chance to open alongside Abhishek Sharma. Following modest performances in Gwalior and Delhi, his centuries in Hyderabad and Durban solidified his place as a key opener for India.
Late-Innings Struggle
Though India looked set for a total well above 250, the last six overs saw tight bowling from South Africa, restricting the visitors to just 40 runs and resulting in six wickets lost.
Spin Mastery Seals the Game
While India thrived against South African spinners, the hosts struggled against Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi. After Arshdeep Singh’s early dismissal of Markram, Varun dismantled the middle order by removing Heinrich Klaasen (25) and David Miller (18). Bishnoi cleaned up the tail with three wickets, ensuring India’s fifth consecutive T20 victory in Durban. South Africa’s last win at this venue dates back to 2016.
