South Africa legend AB de Villiers lavished praise on India batter Sanju Samson after the batter smashed his second consecutive century in the first T20I against South Africa at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban. The right-handed wicketkeeper batter scored 107 runs.
Samson gives credit to India head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav for his batting carnage against South Africa. However, AB de Villiers reckons something else.
"Something has triggered there, something has clicked in his game which is absolutely great to watch. The thing about him is that he makes it effortless out there. I don't see much experimentation going out there. Not a lot of creativity in terms of funny shots, doesn't seem that he wants to entertain the crowd and please someone, he just sticks in his little bubble and he just is easy on the eye," said de Villiers on his youtube channel.
He said that Samson has now reached the maturity point. He also said that there is another gear in Samson's batting and this is the sixth gear.
"Sanju has upped the gear in his game. I hope the selectors are watching this for all the formats. I want to see this guy play all the formats. I think he is someone who is really really special, someone who can play all the formats, in all conditions around the world. Something has clicked in the Sanju Samson world, whether it's the coaching staff, I doubt it. No disrespect to VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel, whoever is a part of the coaching group. I just feel that this guy has reached the maturity point, he has realised something. It is exciting to all of us Samson fans. I think there is another gear, a sixth gear, I want to see it unfold," he added.
Coming back to the match, Sanju Samson delivered a standout performance in the first T20I against South Africa, blasting 7 fours and 10 sixes to power India to a challenging total of 202/8. Despite a strong effort, the Proteas fell short in their chase, and India secured a comfortable 61-run victory.
The two teams will now face off in the second T20I of the four-match series on Sunday, November 10, at St George's Park in Gqeberha.
