India batter Sanju Samsonpicked up where he left off in the last T20I against Bangladesh, hitting his second consecutive century in the shortest format of the game. The 29-year-old picked up his second T20I ton on Friday in the first match of the four-match series against South Africa in Kingsmead, Durban. This is Samson’s second straight T20I tonafter earlier scoring 111 runs against Bangladesh in the final T20I of the three-match series in October.

As a result Sanju Samson has now become the first Indian to score back-to-back T20I tons, and overall the fourth batter to do so. The other players to achieve this feat are France’s Gustav McKeon, South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw and England’s Phil Salt.

Sanju Samson was at his brutal best in the first T20I against South Africa, smashing the Proteas bowlers all around the ground. He particularly liked the spinners, and the likes of Keshav Maharaj and Nqabayomzi Peter were not spared.

The batter brought up his ton in just 47 balls. Samson completed his century in the 15th over of the match off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj. Sanju Samson has also registered the fastest T20I century for India against South Africa, breaking Suryakumar Yadav’s previous record.

Sanju Samson took just 20 balls to go from 50 to 100 in the first T20I against South Africa, showing the raw power he has always possessed. Samson was eventually dismissed for 107 off the bowling of Nqabayomzi.

Sanju Samson continues rich vein of form

Sanju Samson, has always been questioned for not utilizing his talent and registering consistent scores. In October 2024, Sanju finally showed the world what he is made of when he hit 111 runs against Bangladesh in the final T20I of the three-match series.

Samson continued his form and showed great aggression in the first T20I against South Africa, and right from the start he didn’t allow any Proteas bowler to settle in the field.

Samson showed good play both on the back foot and on the front foot. He showed great awareness against the spinners as he hit them mercilessly, to all corners of the ground.

The right-handed batsman also formed a 66-run stand for the second wicket with skipper Suryakumar Yadav. It was a lucky coincidence as these two players had also crushed Bangladesh in the third T20I of the three-match series, last month.

Ever since he started opening the batting practice for Team India in the shortest format, Sanju Samson’s fortunes have changed for the better. The 29-year-old, who is also the captain of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, has finally started to come into his own.

Earlier in the first T20I between India and South Africa, Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first.