Sanju Samson Stars in T20I Win Over South Africa

Sanju Samson delivered a standout performance by scoring his second consecutive T20I century, leading India to a 61-run victory over South Africa in the first match of the series at Kingsmead, Durban. Samson's aggressive innings of 107 runs off 50 balls included 10 sixes and seven fours, setting a strong foundation for India's total of 202/8. Leg-spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi were instrumental in dismantling South Africa's batting lineup, each taking three wickets to bowl out the hosts for 141. Captain Suryakumar Yadav praised Samson's fearless approach and credited team management for supporting him through earlier struggles. The match also saw a heated exchange between Samson, Yadav, and South African bowler Marco Jansen, which was quickly deescalated by the umpires. Former cricketer Anil Kumble highlighted Samson's improved consistency as vital for his future in the team, given the backing from the new management under Gautam Gambhir.