Samson's knock reflects India's new momentum

Opener's attacking century on a bowler friendly Durban pitch marks brand of game India want to play

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

It's still early days for Suryakumar Yadav as India's full-time T20 captain. His first two assignments in that role were in Sri Lanka, post the Rohit Sharma-led side's World Cup win in June, and the home series against Bangladesh. The team's playing style impressed as India won all those six games, but they are not the kind of opposition one can entirely base the judgment on.

Friday at Durban's Kingsmead was his first real test. South Africa haven't got good results recently. But Surya and Co know how dangerous they are in T20s as seen in the T20 World Cup final where they were in control almost till the end, before pressing the self-destruct button. The conditions were what subcontinent teams dread to play in - there was rain and strong breeze when India were asked to bat. When openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma started all-out in attack, fans would have been nervous. They have seen many times that such high-risk cricket doesn't pay off.

Hitting through the line on India's flat wickets is one thing but on a lively pitch in South Africa, usually the ball will get the batter. There has been the odd dazzling innings, but a collective batting effort is rare. Sharma went after every ball, played and missed, and fell for an 8-ball 7. A batting collapse seemed around the corner.