Sanju Samson finally played to his full potential and showcased why he enjoys such a huge backing from cricket fans. The Kerala-based cricketer scored a terrific ton in the third and final T20I between India and Bangladesh, helping the Men in Blue win the match and pocket the series 3-0.
India won the toss and decided to bat first. Abhishek Sharma failed to impress, scoring only four runs. However, once he went out, Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav wreaked havoc on Bangladeshi bowlers.
Samson led the way with his first T20I century, 111 in 47 balls, which included 11 fours and eight sixes. He also shared 173 runs for the second wicket with captain Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 75 off 35 balls, including five sixes and eight fours.
After they were removed, India set a 300-run target, which Riyan Parag (34 in 13) and Hardik Pandya (47 in 18) nearly achieved. India posted their highest T20I total of 297/6 in 20 overs.
The task was a big one and though the Bangladesh top order tried its best to give a good start, the required run rate was always too high. Litton Das with 42 and Towhid Hridoy with 63 helped Bangladesh put 164/7 in 20 overs.
India won by 133 runs and pocketed the T20I series 3-0 in their favor. Ravi Bishnoi picked 3 wickets, while Mayank Yadav took 2 scalps.
Sanju Samson was the Player of the Match and during the post-match press conference, stated that he has learned to deal with the unavoidable "pressure and failures" of top-tier sport, and the Indian batter expressed gratitude to the leadership team for leading him through dark periods of self-doubt and providing him another chance to establish his value.
“After a couple of ducks in Sri Lanka, I was a bit doubtful about getting a chance in the next series. But they (the coaching staff and captain) backed me and kept on saying that they would back me no matter what.
I think mentally you go through a lot as an Indian cricketer, especially in this format (T20). But I have learned to cope with the pressure and the failures. I think a lot of credit has to go to the dressing room, the leadership group, and the captain and the coach have been backing me,” Samson said in the post-match press meet.
Samson said head coach Gautam Gambhir had conveyed well in advance the decision to hand him the opener's role during the Bangladesh series.
“I think three weeks before this series, I was very fortunate to get a message from the leadership group -- Gautam Bhai, Suryakumar (Yadav), and Abhishek Nair (assistant coach) -- that I will be opening. I think that gave me proper preparation.
I went back to Rajasthan Royals Academy and I was playing lots against new ball bowlers, and I think that preparation helped me a tiny bit. I think I was just coming in 10% more ready in this series than any other series,” he detailed.
Samson said the role clarity has also helped him to develop more awareness about his own game.
“Basically, I have understood my game that I can bat anywhere from 1 to 6. I think I have power and I also have timing in my game. So, it is all about working according to which role I am playing in. When you have those failures, I think, it is very easy to go back and say I will make my run in the next game. But I know what (type of) person I am. It is all about my friends, and my team.
So, I like to go out and fail or succeed in my own way. I just want to be myself. It is all about knowing your game and knowing your character. So, it is all about being true to yourself,” he said.
Samson said the presence of skipper Suryakumar at the other end was helpful for him.
He said: “I was having a good partnership with Surya and there was great communication happening between both of us. He was also taking a lot of pressure from me and we both were scoring. I think there was a great combination happening in the middle.”
Samson stressed that the Indian T20I side will try to dominate every game they play.
“We have committed as a batting group to go out and dominate each and every game we play in this format. So, as a team, we are doing it and I am very grateful that I did something good for the team. But we were not thinking about 300 (total),” he added.
The highlight of Samson’s innings was the five successive sixes he hammered off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. Samson said hitting six sixes in an over has been on his mind for a while now.
“I know what I can do to a spinner. So, I just wanted to hit maximum runs in that over. I have been thinking that I can hit six 6s in an over. I am not joking. I have been working accordingly with my coaches. I have been practicing and visualizing for that. I am very grateful that it finally happened,” he signed off.
(PTI inputs)
