Sanju Samson joins elite club with 100 T20I sixes
Sanju Samson joins an elite club of Indian batters after hitting his 100th T20I six during the high-scoring clash against West Indies in Hyderabad.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson etched his name into the history books during Wednesday's high-octane fourth T20I against the West Indies at Hyderabad's Uppal Stadium. In a display of pure power hitting, Samson became only the sixth Indian player to reach the monumental milestone of hitting 100 T20I sixes.
An explosive response to West Indies onslaught
The match turned into a high-scoring thriller after West Indies skipper Shai Hope unleashed a devastating innings. Hope struck a blistering 102* off just 50 balls, including nine massive sixes, helping the visitors post a daunting total. However, Samson refused to let the target intimidate him.
Tasked with a massive 248-run chase, Samson adopted an ultra-aggressive approach from the very first ball. He smashed 56 runs off a mere 22 deliveries, an innings decorated with six boundaries and four sixes. His incredible strike rate of 243.48 set the tone for India's pursuit, bringing his career T20I six count to 102.
The elite 100-six club
By reaching this landmark, Samson joins a prestigious group of Indian cricketers who have cleared the ropes 100 times or more in the T20I format. The members of this exclusive club include:
- Rohit Sharma: 205 sixes
- Suryakumar Yadav: 179 sixes
- Abhishek Sharma: 141* sixes
- Hardik Pandya: 126 sixes
- Virat Kohli: 124 sixes
- Sanju Samson: 102 sixes
A standout year for Samson
Samson's career has seen a significant upward trajectory, particularly throughout this year. He has amassed 687 runs in 24 innings this year, maintaining a strike rate of 178.44 and an average of 29.86. His consistency was highlighted by seven half-centuries, including a crucial run during the T20 World Cup where he earned the 'Player of the Tournament' award after helping India secure their third title.
In his total T20I career spanning 76 matches, Samson has accumulated 1,719 runs at an average of 27.28, bolstered by three centuries and ten fifties.
West Indies dominate the first innings
The West Indies' massive total of 247/3 was built on several impactful cameos. Following Hope's century, Jewel Andrew contributed 21 off 16 balls, while Shimron Hetmyer (33 off 12) and Rovman Powell (24 off 17) kept the momentum high. Sherfane Rutherford provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 49 off 26 balls.
For the Indian bowling unit, it was a difficult outing. Prince Yadav was the most economical, finishing with figures of 1/36, while Arshdeep Singh conceded 52 runs in his spell. Mayank Yadav struggled to find breakthroughs, finishing without a wicket as the West Indian batters dominated the field.
At the conclusion of the powerplay during the Indian chase, the hosts stood at 80/2, with Shreyas Iyer and Abhishek Sharma remaining at the crease to navigate the steep climb toward the target.