“Just Need That One Big Hundred”: Sanju Samson Reveals Ravi Shastri's Message After Historic Hundred vs South Africa

After scoring his second consecutive century in T20Is, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson revealed the conversation between him and former coach Ravi Shastri during the Bangladesh game of the T20I series at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Sanju Samson's fireworks and Varun Chakravarthy's spin demolished South Africa and India were buoyed by a 61-run win in the opening T20I at Kingsmead on Friday. Samson raised his level in the third T20 match against Bangladesh and maintained the momentum by playing an innings of 107(50) with the help of seven fours and 10 skyscraper sixes.

“I remember he spoke to me before the match against Bangladesh in Hyderabad. He said, 'Sanju! You just need a big century. I'm telling you. And you'll be fine.' “I think we are happy that it happened and I am happy for everyone,” Samson said in a video posted by the BCCI.

The 29-year-old's 107 is the highest individual score in a T20I between India and South Africa, surpassing David Miller's unbeaten 106 in Guwahati in 2022.

Furthermore, the right-handed batsman expressed his feelings on his second consecutive century in the shortest format of the game.

“I think it's too early to realize how special it is. Maybe if you ask me tomorrow, I can tell you how excited and happy I am,” Samson said.

Recalling the match, Aiden Markram-led South Africa sent India in to bat first after the toss.

Sanju Samson's explosive innings helped India get off to a fast start in the game. The wicketkeeper-batsman played an innings of 107 runs in 50 balls at a strike rate of 214.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav (21 runs on 17 balls, 2 fours and 1 six) and batsman Tilak Verma (33 runs on 18 balls, 3 fours and 2 balls) also played average innings and took India to 202/8 in the first innings. .

Gerald Coetzee led South Africa's bowling attack and took three wickets for 37 runs in his four-over spell.

South African batsmen failed to perform well during the run chase. Due to India's dominant bowling attack, no Proteas batsman could cross the 30-run mark.

Heinrich Klaasen (25 runs from 22 balls, 2 fours and 1 six) and Gerald Coetzee (23 runs from 11 balls, 3 sixes) were the top scorers for the hosts in the second innings.

The Indian bowling attack, led by Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, bowled out the hosts for 141 with two overs remaining.

Both Varun and Bishnoi took three wickets each in the game.

Samson was adjudged Player of the Match after his brilliant performance with the bat. India will take on South Africa in the second T20 match of the series at Gkebarha on Sunday.