New Delhi, November 17 – Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is on a phenomenal run in T20Is, smashing three centuries in his last five matches. His recent exploits include tons in the first and final T20Is of the four-match series against South Africa and a maiden T20I century in the third match against Bangladesh earlier this year.
Samson’s Rapid Rise
The 30-year-old’s performance has garnered praise from former cricketer Ajay Jadeja, who has gone so far as to place him ahead of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in terms of his impact in T20Is.
While Rohit has scored five T20I hundreds—the joint-most in the format alongside Australia’s Glenn Maxwell—it took him 159 matches to achieve the feat. Similarly, Virat Kohli, despite being one of the most consistent T20I batters, has managed just one century in 125 matches.
Suryakumar Yadav, India’s current T20I superstar, boasts four centuries in 78 matches, while KL Rahul has two hundreds in 72 matches. Sanju Samson, on the other hand, has reached the milestone of three hundreds in just 37 matches, highlighting his aggressive approach and adaptability.
Ajay Jadeja’s View
Speaking on Jio Cinema, Jadeja lauded Samson’s fearless mindset and credited the “new generation” of players for their attacking approach.
“Our legends played 150 games to score 4-5 hundreds in T20Is, but Samson has reached three tons in a short period. This shows the mindset of the new generation. They are not afraid of anything and go for their shots from the first ball of the match,” said Jadeja.
He further noted the transformation in Samson’s batting since he started opening the innings.
“Sanju was waiting for a chance to open the innings, and he has become a different batter now. He always had the talent, but consistency was missing. Although he scored two consecutive ducks against South Africa, his numbers have been phenomenal,” added Jadeja.
Samson’s Role as an Opener
Samson was promoted to the opening position during the three-match series against Bangladesh, a move that has significantly elevated his performances. His ability to go for big shots right from the first ball has been a game-changer for India, adding firepower to the team’s top order.
With his recent performances, Samson has not only cemented his place in the team but also emerged as a potential mainstay in India’s T20I setup for years to come.
