India defeated South Africa by 61 runs in the first T20I.
Sanju Samson delivered a remarkable performance in Durban, scoring an impressive century that helped India set a total of 202 runs in their first innings. After being put to bat first, the Indian team didn’t hold back, showing strong intent on foreign turf. Captain Suryakumar Yadav had emphasized wanting his team to play a bold and aggressive style in T20 cricket, and the players have certainly stepped up to that vision so far.
Opener Abhishek Sharma, however, struggled once again, managing only seven runs before getting out. Following his dismissal, Samson took control, forming a crucial 66-run partnership with the captain. Suryakumar himself didn’t seem entirely at ease, contributing 21 runs off 17 balls. Samson, the Kerala-born wicketkeeper-batsman, kept things steady in the middle, ultimately guiding the team to a strong total on the scoreboard.
South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, reflected on their recent defeat, attributing the loss to the exceptional performance by Sanju Samson. Markram shared that the Proteas aimed to get off to a strong start with the ball, but Samson’s powerful play made things challenging. His aggressive batting put South Africa under pressure, and they struggled to find a way to halt his momentum.
Markram reflected on the game afterward, saying, “We really wanted a stronger start—that’s where things slipped away from us. Sanju played brilliantly, putting real pressure on our bowlers. To counter him, we’ll need to come up with stronger strategies moving forward. When he’s in that kind of form, he’s tough to stop, and you’ve got to respect his performance.”
Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t: Samson
Sanju Samson has set a new milestone as the first Indian cricketer to hit consecutive centuries in international cricket. Thanks to his outstanding performance, India claimed a 61-run victory, with Samson earning the Player of the Match title. During the post-match presentation, he shared insights into his approach, emphasizing the importance of playing with intent—even when it comes with the risk of things not always working out as planned.
Samson explained, “The intent is key. We’ve been focusing on being aggressive and putting the team first. Once I get in with a few balls, I start looking for boundaries. I try not to overthink it—sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I’m glad it clicked today,” shared the 29-year-old.
