During the 1st ODI match between India and South Africa, right-handed batter Sanju Samson answered the question with the bat – “why he is regarded as one of the most promising batters in the world”.
Dale Steyn Praises Sanju Samson
During the South Africa tour of India 2022, both teams are scheduled to play 3 T20Is and 3 ODI matches where India won the T20I by 2-1 while South Africa leads the ODI series by 0-1.
The match has been reduced to 40 overs after the toss delayed due to rain. Batting first South Africa scored 249 runs for 4 wickets loss. During the chasing Indian top order batters fails to score the expected runs.
India loses 4 wickets for 51 runs where Shreyas Iyer and Sanj Samson join hands for the fifth wicket. After a long struggle, India loses the match by just 9 runs.
After the match, former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn complimented Samson, saying he has the ability to hit sixes like Yuvraj Singh.
“As soon as KG (Kagiso Rabada) bowled that no-ball in the last ball of his over, I was like, ‘please don’t let this happen’. Because you never know with someone like Sanju, especially with the form that he has got and the belief that he has. I watched him in the IPL, his ability to take down the bowlers and hit boundary at will, especially in the last 2 overs of the game, is incredible,” Steyn told host broadcaster Star Sports after the match.
“Shamsi was going to bowl the last over and he (Samson) knew he (Shamsi) had a rough day. I was nervous when KG bowled the no ball. Because Sanju is a kind of guy who has the potential of Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), to hit those six sixes and get team across the line when it needs 30+,” he added.
Sanju Samson remains unbeaten with a score of 86 from 63 balls which includes 9 boundaries and 3 sixes.
“It is always nice to spend some time in the middle and we always play to take our team over the line. I missed connecting two shots, next time I will work even harder. But I am satisfied with my contribution. Their bowlers were going about things nicely, Tabraiz Shamsi was a little expensive today so we felt we can target them,” said Samson during a post-match press conference.
“We knew he would bowl the last over, I knew if I had to get 24 runs in the final over, I can hit four sixes. I was taking the game deep, the plan was this only and the batters responded nicely,” he added.
FIFTY for @IamSanjuSamson 👏👏
The right-handed batter has kept the run chase alive with his clean striking! #TeamIndia need 59 off the final four overs.
Don’t miss the LIVE coverage of the #INDvSA match on @starsportsindia pic.twitter.com/298jDemOit
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 6, 2022
The second ODI match of the series will be played on October 9 in JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.
