IND vs SA 1st T20I: High on impact and beauty, Sanju Samson's century takes India to big win in series opener

Sanju Samson became the first from the country to crack successive T20I centuries (BCCI/File Photo)

Don’t be surprised if the loudest cheers for India’s T20I win in Durban came from Kerala. The shortest-format specialists in Men in Blue trounced South Africa by 61 runs in the opening game of the series. Sanju Samson must have been the most satisfied person, other than being the Player of the Match for a sumptuous century.

The player from Thiruvananthapuram had become the 11th Indian man to make a three-figure score in T20Is in October. This was no landmark. The point is, on Friday at Kingsmead, Sanju slammed perhaps the most attractive century by an Indian in this version. Things like 107 from 50 balls, 10 sixes and seven fours, or him becoming the first from the country to crack successive T20I centuries, speak little of what was on offer.

It came at the right time for this mercurial talent from a state not known for producing cricketers. India host the T20 World Cup in 2026. A new captain and the selectors opting for a new set of players from the Indian Premier League pool following the retirement of a few seniors, indicates this might form the nucleus, looking ahead to the event where India will try to defend their title. There is a long way to go and there will be changes. But performance at this point in time will not go unnoticed.

Spoken as much about for his gifted abilities with the bat as his tendency to be inconsistent — Sanju has had his share of lows. India looking to rebuild and him performing in such audacious manner means it’s a rousing start. And so was it for his team. After faltering towards the end of their innings and still posting 202/8, the bowlers gave South Africa no chance.

Sanju will have reasons to feel happier, considering that the game was only about him. His breathtaking hitting was by far the most spectacular feature. Few can make batting in a format which doesn’t care about aesthetics look so good. He was beautifully brutal while lifting the ball in the arc from extra-cover to long-on. Disdain, judgement of lengths and rapid fire reaction helped him treat the bowlers the way he wanted.

It was his day as well. There were occasions when he cleared the ropes even after getting into complicated positions. However, more than the runs and the nature of shots, this sign of consistency should please the persons who decided to invest in him.