Sanju Samson 3.0 Unlocked? Making sense of his Hyderabad T20I heroics

India vs Bangladesh: Is Hyderabad T20I going to be remembered as a significant turning point in Sanju Samson's career? Having been an enigma in the T20I format, Samson finally arrived at the party, repaying the faith that the new team management showed in him.

In Short

• Sanju Samson hit a 47-ball 111 in India’s Himalayan total of 297 in Hyderabad
• Samson smashed his maiden T20I hundred, 9 years after making his debut
• Have India found an able replacement for Rohit Sharma at the top?

It’s not easy being Sanju Samson. Identified as a teenage prodigy, the batting superstar from Kerala has faced numerous challenges. After making his debut in 2015, Samson had to wait five more years for another opportunity to represent India in the T20I format. While he has shown flashes of brilliance at the highest level, his consistency has often contrasted with his performances in the Indian Premier League with the Rajasthan Royals.

Since his comeback in 2022, Samson has had a relatively more consistent run in terms of opportunities. That year was one of his best in the format, as he scored 179 runs, including a fifty, in six matches. However, a World Cup call-up eluded him. In 2023, he received eight more opportunities but averaged just 15.60 runs per innings. Before the series against Bangladesh in 2024, he had six chances to impress, but the Kerala batter struggled to make an impact.

India vs Bangladesh, 3rd T20I: Highlights | Full Scorecard

It seemed as if time was running out for the 29-year-old. When captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed before the series opener in Guwahati that Samson would be opening alongside Abhishek Sharma, it looked like the team management was giving him one last chance to deliver, considering the intense competition for opening spots.

Samson himself felt that his time in T20Is might be over after he recorded two ducks in a three-match series against Sri Lanka. "I was a bit doubtful after a couple of ducks in Sri Lanka as to whether I would be getting a chance in the next series," he said after smashing a 47-ball 111 that powered India to a Himalayan total of 297 in 20 overs on Saturday in Hyderabad.

Samson persisted through the lows and the lack of opportunities. Every time he wore the pink of the Rajasthan Royals, he made sure to send reminders to the selectors. The talent he displayed must have been irresistible for those making the decisive calls. Despite his inconsistent run at the highest level, Samson kept coming back into contention.

SAMSON FINALLY ARRIVES AT THE PARTY

On Saturday, October 12, Samson finally arrived at the party. After missed chances in the first two T20Is of the series in Gwalior and Delhi, time was truly running out for the senior campaigner. He delivered just in the nick of time.

Credit to Samson, he did not bat like a man fighting to save his spot in the team. He understood what the team management wanted from him and recognised what he was capable of. His see-saw career taught him one valuable lesson: “Stay true to yourself.”

After a quiet first over, Samson launched into Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, hitting four boundaries on the trot. By the time the powerplay was over, Samson had raced to 37 from 19 deliveries. He reached his fifty in the very next over, smashing leg-spinner Rishad Hossain for a six, a four, and another six. Even with the lifting of field restrictions, Samson’s aggressive play continued.

Samson left the world in awe with a sensational punch off the back foot that sailed over the cover boundary in the eighth over. Mustafizur Rahman, who bowled a slower delivery, must have wondered whether that shot and the way the ball travelled to the stands were bound by the laws of physics. It was a clear statement from Samson: he was not going to settle for another score in the 50s or 60s; he was aiming for the big one.

Unfortunately for young Rishad, the price was steep in the 10th over, as Samson ticked off a significant milestone from his T20 batting wishlist—hitting five sixes in an over. It was ruthless from “Chetta.”

WHEN EMOTIONS TOLD THE STORY

Samson reached his maiden T20I hundred in just 40 deliveries, achieving the second-fastest ton for India in the shortest format of the game.

For a moment, he appeared speechless, lost in emotion after hitting a boundary in the 13th over to bring up his hundred. It took him a few seconds to process the achievement before a smile broke across his face. In those few microseconds, Samson must have relived his topsy-turvy career. A warm embrace from Suryakumar Yadav brought him back to reality.

Samson conquered self-doubt and showcased that all those who backed him over the years were indeed right.

WHAT CHANGED IN HYDERABAD?

For only the second time in his nine-year career, Samson received three successive opportunities at the same batting position in a series. A couple of weeks ago, when he was wondering if he would be part of the T20I squad against Bangladesh, he received a text message from the leadership group, including Suryakumar, coach Gautam Gambhir, and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, telling him he would be opening.

This made a huge difference—Samson felt he was 10 per cent more prepared for this series than any other in the past.

“Three weeks before the series, I was fortunate to get a message from the leadership group. I think Surya, Gautam bhai, and Abhishek Nayar told me that I would be opening,” Samson said. “That gave me some kind of proper preparation. I went back to the Rajasthan Royals academy, where I faced lots of new-ball bowlers. That preparation definitely helps you. I was coming in 10 per cent more ready for this series than any other. I think that communication helps you be better prepared,” he added.

There was no doubting Samson’s talent. No one could question his commitment to the team. Like on Saturday, he has never been afraid of taking risks. He has the temperament, as seen in numerous IPL innings, to gauge the situation and deliver in a demanding format. Yet, it all needed to come together. And it did in Hyderabad.

What’s next for Samson?

A seasoned senior pro at the top of the order in a team transitioning in the post-Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli era will be a delight for team management.

“If you stick with him, he will do wonders,” former head coach Ravi Shastri said, backing Samson to find the elusive consistency. “He has got the shots that can destroy the confidence of bowlers. It’s just a matter of getting one big innings at the top of the order. I think he will be on his way. He will understand better shot selection. It’s a classic case of a player with so many options knowing which ones to play and when—that’s the key,” the former head coach added.

The feast in Hyderabad would have only made Samson hungrier. With the backing from the team management, this latest version of Samson might witness more success than failure.

Have India found Rohit Sharma’s replacement at the top?