Centurion Sanju Samson scripted these T20I records against South Africa
What's the story
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson produced a sensational show in the first T20I against South Africa, scoring a stunning 107 off just 50 balls. The match was held at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday (November 8). Samson's blistering innings comprised of seven fours and 10 sixes, which helped India reach a total of 202 for eight wickets in 20 overs. Here are the list of records Samson shattered during his stay.
Team contribution
Samson's partnerships boost India's total
Samson built significant partnerships with his teammates, adding 66 runs for the second wicket with captain Suryakumar Yadav (21 runs from 17 balls) and another 77 runs for the third wicket with Tilak Varma (33 runs from 18 balls). These partnerships were instrumental in strengthening India's total against South Africa.
Historic achievement
Samson sets new records with consecutive centuries
Samson's century in the first T20I also made him the first Indian cricketer to score two consecutive 100s in the format. His previous century came against Bangladesh in Hyderabad on October 12, 2024, where he scored an impressive 111 runs from just 47 balls. The achievement also makes Samson the first Asian and fourth batter globally to hit back-to-back hundreds in T20Is.
Elite club
Samson joins elite group with T20I century against SA
With his latest performance, Samson has entered an elite club of Indian cricketers such as Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav who have scored a century in T20Is against South Africa. He is also the second Indian batter after Yadav to score a T20I century on South African soil. This feat further solidifies his position as one of India's finest in the shortest format of cricket.
Record breaker
Samson's century sets new record in India-SA T20I matches
Samson's 107 off 50 balls is now the highest individual score in T20I matches between India and South Africa. He broke Rohit Sharma's nine-year-old record of 106 runs off 66 balls in Dharamsala on October 2, 2015. Further, his 10 sixes in this innings also equal the record for most sixes hit by an Indian batter in a T20I inning.
Six-hitting spree
Samson's 6-hitting spree sets new record in India-SA T20I
Samson now has the record for hitting most sixes in a T20I match between India and South Africa. The previous record was held by Rilee Rossouw and Suryakumar Yadav, who hit eight sixes each during their centuries in 2022 and 2023, respectively. This feat emphasizes his aggressive batting style and ability to score big runs quickly.