The eight-year itch: Samson finally gets a ton off his back

Wicketkeeper-batter scored his first ODI century to once again serve notice of his brilliant talent

- Somshuvra Laha

Before this ODI series, there was some chatter around why Sanju Samson shouldn't be part of the setup anymore that he could be one of those rare talents who sizzled all too sporadically, never to exude that sense of stability, and hence should make way for younger alternates. Eight years since his international debut, now we know why Samson is special.

A maiden hundred in a series decider in South Africa, on a Paarl pitch where the ball started coming slower as it got older, Samson maximised the time all 41 overs of it - to squeeze the most out of himself to set up India's fourth highest ODI total ever in South Africa.

Only he wasn't supposed to bat at No.3 at all, considering how certain KL Rahul was before th series that No.5 or 6 was the best place for Samson. But India were in a mood to experiment, making Rajat Patidar open on debut after Ruturaj Gaikwad was deemed unfit, and sending Samson right after him. Samson fit right in. He has had a fifty against South Africa (86₹ in Lucknow) before this, but never away. More importantly, most of Samson's good innings' came in the middle overs, when he was either left with one specialist batter or the lower order.