West Indies had won the toss and chose to bowl first in Ranchi T20I.
Abhishek Sharma (20) and Sanju Samson added 42 runs for the first wicket in 4 overs. Then Ishan Kishan (37) and Samson added 97 runs for the second wicket. Shivam Dube got out for 7 runs, but Samson held the Indian innings together with a sublime 82 in 41 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes.
It looked like the West Indies had pulled things back when Samson got out with India at 162 in 15 overs. But then Shreyas Iyer (40) and Tilak Varma (44*) powered India to 249/5 in 20 overs. Roston Chase was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/24, while Shamar Joseph took two wickets.
Sanju Samson was the toast of the Indian innings, as he was under pressure to score, given that he had only got to fifty twice in his last 11 innings in T20Is.
“Yeah, it is definitely (on his tricky start). I think that's the thing (about) playing (at) different venues. I got to bat yesterday in the center, so we could get to understand a bit that the ball might skid a bit and stay a bit low. So yes, it was staying a bit low, and it was skidding a bit through, but we just had one wicket to go. I think we just had to go for it, and things came off nicely today,” Samson told broadcasters in mid-innings, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Talking about how he prepares for an innings in the middle, Samson said, "No, I think not that much. I just try to just look at the ball and have a very positive frame of mind. I think if the ball is in my area, I definitely go for it. So, it doesn't matter if it's overcooked or if it's overdone. So, it depends on where the bowler is bowling. I don't like to get a bit premeditated. I just like to be blunt, watch the ball, and back my instincts.”
He was asked about his form coming into the West Indies series. Samson was backed for the Afghanistan T20Is, and now the Windies are ahead of the teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Sooryavanshi was the Player of the Series in the last T20I; he played against Zimbabwe.
“Nothing. I don't think so. I think being a professional cricketer playing for India, I think you definitely take care of the professional side of it. You do your preparation, you do your practice, you do your training, and you do everything possible in your hands. But to be very honest, I think we all know that in this format, the result is not in your hands, but there is only one way to go.
So, you can't say I've had three bad innings, so let's take some time; let's build my innings, and then we will see. No, there is only one way to go. I think the team is in front. My job is to just give a great start for my country, and I try to do that, and I take the responsibility when I get out also. So that's totally fine, and I'm taking the blame on me. I don't blame anyone else for not scoring runs, actually. That's my job, and I try to do it every time I step out to the ground,” Samson added.
He was asked to talk about India’s final score of 249 runs.
Samson said, "Well, it's a brilliant score, to be very honest, but as you know, the West Indian batters, they're very strong, and they can definitely put on a show. So, we need to be switched on, and I think the powerplay plays a huge role in these kinds of games, actually. So, the power play is really important for us."