5 milestones achieved by Sanju Samson during his knock of 107 in 1st SA vs IND T20I 2024

After years of potential and flashes of brilliance, Sanju Samson finally seems to be proving his worth on the international stage with a series of power-packed performances. Known for his explosive hitting, he has often faced criticism for inconsistency.

However, in recent matches, he has risen to the occasion, displaying a newfound focus and discipline that has made him one of India’s most valuable T20I assets. His latest innings, a scintillating 107 against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban during the first T20I of the four-match series on November 8, has shown his worth.

Facing a strong South African bowling attack, Samson brought up his hundred in just 47 balls, an electrifying display that left one and all in awe. This was not just another inning - it was a record-setting performance filled with achievements. From setting new benchmarks to reaching personal milestones, Samson’s knock etched his name further into Indian cricket’s T20I history.

Here is a look at five significant milestones Sanju Samson achieved during his unforgettable 107-run innings in Durban.

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5 milestones achieved by Sanju Samson during his knock of 107 in 1st SA vs IND T20I 2024

#5 First Indian wicketkeeper to score a T20I century against South Africa

By scoring this century, Sanju Samson became the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to achieve a T20I hundred against South Africa. Adding to his list of firsts, he also became the fastest Indian keeper to reach the three-figure mark against the Proteas, marking a career milestone. The knock highlighted his capability not just as a batsman but also in a specialized role as a wicketkeeper-batter.

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#4 Fastest T20I century by an Indian against South Africa

Samson's blistering knock saw him reach his century off just 47 balls, making it the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter against South Africa. The previous record was held by Suryakumar Yadav, but Samson's innings surpassed it with an innings of sheer aggression and dominance.

He accelerated impressively, taking only 20 balls to move from 50 to 100. He mercilessly punished the South African bowlers, reaching his milestone in the 15th over off Keshav Maharaj’s delivery.

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#3 Joint most sixes by an Indian in a T20I Innings

Known for his power-hitting ability, Samson demonstrated it yet again by hammering 10 sixes alongside seven boundaries during his explosive innings. This tally of sixes tied the record for the most sixes hit by an Indian batter in a single T20I innings.

The record was previously held solely by Rohit Sharma, who achieved it against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017. Samson’s ability to clear the boundary with ease highlighted the raw power he brings to the Indian lineup.

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#2 Highest individual score in a T20I between India and South Africa

Sanju Samson’s 107 runs, not only marked his personal milestone. but also set a new high in T20I clashes between India and South Africa. This record-breaking innings beat the previous best of 106 not out by South Africa’s David Miller against India in Guwahati in 2022.

Samson’s score now stands as the highest individual score in T20I encounters between the two teams, adding another prestigious record to his name.

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#1 First Indian to Score Consecutive T20I Centuries

With this century, Sanju Samson became the first Indian cricketer to score hundreds in consecutive T20I matches. In his previous appearance, Samson had smashed a century against Bangladesh in the third and final T20I of the series. By following it up with yet another ton against South Africa, he joined an elite club of cricketers to achieve this feat in T20Is.

Only three other players worldwide have accomplished back-to-back centuries in this format, making Samson’s achievement even more remarkable for an Indian batter. The other three on the list are Gustav Mckeon, Rilee Roussouw, and Phil Salt.