Sanju Samson's match-winning 'hundred is going to change his career': Sunil Gavaskar

Sanju Samson struck his maiden international hundred on Thursday as he scored 108 in India’s series-clinching victory over South Africa. With the three-match ODI series levelled 1-1, Samson completed his ton in 110 balls batting at No 3 as India scored 296/8 at Boland Park. The total proved too daunting for the Proteas as they were bowled out for 218. suffering a 78-run loss.

Batting Sunil Gavaskar was hugely impressed by Samson’s innings and said that the latest knock is going to “change” the Kerala batter’s career.

“The standout for me from this innings was his shot selection. In the past, he has gotten out despite getting starts. Today, you couldn’t fault him at all, he was biding his time, waiting for the bad ball, and then getting a hundred. I think this hundred is going to change his career. One, he will get more opportunities because of this hundred,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

The maturity Samson showed on a slow pitch was the most impressive part of his knock. He scored his first 64 runs in 90 balls as he stabilise India’s innings. His next 44 runs came in just 24 balls as he shifted gears to give India the required momentum towards the end.

“Secondly, I think he will also start to believe in himself more that he belongs to this level. Sometimes you know you are there, but the luck is not with you and things like that. You get a tremendous delivery, and a great catch, all these things can make you doubt whether you actually belong there. This century will make him believe he belongs here. He has always belonged here, mind you. We all know the talent he has. But somehow he had not delivered, but today he delivered not just for everybody but for himself as well,” Gavaskar added.

Samson will now look to have a productive IPL 2024 to stake a claim in India’s T20I side ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.