Cricket

India and South Africa Clash in Crucial Third T20IWith the series tied at 1-1, the third T20I between India and South Africa in Centurion on Wednesday has become a pivotal encounter. The winner of this match will gain a significant advantage in the five-match series.India began the series with a dominant 61-run victory in Durban, thanks to a brilliant century from Sanju Samson. However, the Proteas bounced back in the second T20I in Gqeberha, securing a narrow three-wicket win.Samson, who celebrated his 30th birthday on November 11, was the center of attention during the team's journey from Gqeberha to Centurion. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a heartwarming video on social media, capturing the Indian cricketers' birthday wishes for Samson on the bus and his cake-cutting celebration at the team hotel.The Indian team is determined to regain the momentum in the third T20I. They will be looking to their star players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul, to deliver match-winning performances. South Africa, on the other hand, will be eager to continue their winning streak and take a 2-1 lead in the series.The fourth and final T20I of the series will be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday. The outcome of the third T20I will have a significant impact on the overall result of the series.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir, while preparing for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, has expressed his admiration for Sanju Samson's recent performances in South Africa. Despite not being directly involved in the South African tour, Gambhir acknowledged Samson's talent and the support he has received."It's not about me," Gambhir said. "It's his ability. He's been given the right number and backing, and he's worked hard. What he's doing for Indian cricket is just the start."Samson's century in the first T20I against South Africa made him the first Indian to score consecutive tons in the shortest format. Gambhir believes this is a positive sign for Indian cricket."Some of the young players are really coming through, which is always healthy," he said.Gambhir is now focused on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will be crucial for India's World Test Championship final hopes. He believes the team's experience will be invaluable."We have got a lot of experienced players who have been to Australia a lot many times," he said. "Their experience will come in handy for the young players as well."Gambhir emphasized the importance of being prepared for the first Test."These 10 days are going to be very crucial," he said. "Come the 22nd morning, we should be absolutely ready and ready to fire from ball one."

Sanju Samson, India's enigmatic batter, has opened up about his struggles in international cricket, revealing the self-doubt that plagued him during a string of failures. However, with unwavering self-belief and the support of captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir, Samson has staged a remarkable comeback, hitting back-to-back centuries in T20 Internationals.Samson's resurgence began with a breathtaking 111 against Bangladesh in the third T20I, followed by another ton in India's comfortable 61-run win over South Africa in the opening game of the series. The Kerala batter acknowledged the crucial role played by Yadav and Gambhir during his low phase."When you have a supporting captain like Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam bhai, they all support you during failures," Samson said. "The way they communicate with you in your failures is very important. Everyone knows that if we are going through a negative phase, then the player can get lost there."Samson's innings against South Africa included 10 monstrous sixes, propelling India to a formidable 202 for 8 in 20 overs. The wicket was challenging, but Samson's aggressive approach paid dividends."We are definitely the world champions at the moment," Samson said. "So I think we have to play like that and just keep on looking to dominate in this format."Samson's resurgence is a testament to his resilience and the importance of self-belief. Despite facing criticism for not fulfilling his potential, he has remained determined to prove his worth. With the support of his captain and coach, Samson has rediscovered his form and is now a key player in India's T20I setup.

Former South African captain AB de Villiers has expressed his admiration for Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who has been excelling in his new role as opener in the national T20I set-up. De Villiers revealed that he and Samson have been in touch for a while, and suggested that something has changed in the latter's game.Samson has smashed two centuries in as many games in the format, including a 50-ball 107 with the help of 10 sixes and 7 fours in the series opener against South Africa on Friday. De Villiers believes that Samson has discovered "another gear" in his game."He scored a 100 once at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against RCB, I was on the park and I realized that day, that this guy is something special and he is proving me right," de Villiers said in a video on his YouTube channel. "For those of you who have followed Sanju Samson, I haven't often seen him bat at a strike rate of more than 200, he is generally more conservative, he is usually between 140-160 and both these hundreds he has scored back-to-back have been very very fast and especially this last hundred."De Villiers doesn't feel that the current Indian team management has had any influence in Samson's redemption. Instead, he believes that Samson has reached a point in his career where he can only improve and take his batting to another level."Something has triggered there, something has clicked in his game which is absolutely great to watch," de Villiers said. "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.""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 realized 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."

Sanju Samson's scintillating century propelled India to a resounding 61-run victory in the series opener against South Africa in Durban. However, the lack of contributions from other key batters remains a concern heading into the second game in Gqeberha.Samson's 107-run knock from 50 balls, studded with seven fours and 10 sixes, powered India to a formidable 211/4. The Proteas, missing several key players, struggled to keep up with the pace and were restricted to 150/9.Despite the emphatic win, India's batting lineup has raised questions. Apart from Samson, only Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (29) made significant contributions. The likes of Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Tilak Varma failed to make an impact.The weather forecast for the second T20I in Gqeberha is not promising. Rain is expected to arrive after the start of the match, around 6 PM local time (9:30 PM IST). The forecast predicts high chances of afternoon and evening showers, which could lead to interruptions and delays.Even if the overs are reduced, there is a high possibility that rain might return later in the day, which could eventually lead to the match being washed out. The temperature will fluctuate between 15 to 21 degree celsius throughout the day.For South Africa, the loss was a hard blow, marking their second consecutive defeat to India after their loss in the T20 World Cup final in June. With key players such as Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi all missing from the squad, the Proteas are already struggling without some of their most experienced campaigners.The absence of these senior players will make the second T20I an uphill battle for South Africa, particularly with their recent form. Having lost 0-3 to the West Indies and drawn a series against Ireland, the Proteas will need improved performances from their senior players, including captain Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen.

Sanju Samson's blistering century in the first T20I against South Africa has propelled him into the record books as the seventh-fastest Indian batter to reach 7,000 T20 runs. The wicketkeeper-batter's 107 off 50 balls in Durban not only gave India a 1-0 lead in the series but also marked a significant milestone in his career.Samson's achievement is even more impressive considering he reached the landmark in just 269 innings, equaling Robin Uthappa's record. He surpassed former India captain MS Dhoni, who took 305 innings to reach the same milestone. KL Rahul remains the fastest Indian to reach 7,000 T20 runs, having done so in just 191 innings.Samson's century was a display of his exceptional batting prowess. He smashed seven fours and 10 sixes at a strike rate of 214.00, leaving the Proteas bowlers helpless. Speaking after the match, Samson attributed his success to adjustments made before the tour."There's been some adjustment," Samson said. "With experience in India A tours and traveling with the Indian team, I understand South African conditions. I practice on different pitches with various balls to replicate conditions and scenarios. It gives me an advantage."Samson's preparation paid off as he looked comfortable from the outset. He played with confidence and aggression, taking the South African bowlers to task. His innings was a testament to his hard work and dedication.India will now look to build on their series lead in the second T20I in Gqeberha on Sunday. Samson will be a key player for the visitors as they aim to secure another victory and take a commanding position in the series.

Amidst India's batting struggles, two wicketkeeper-batsmen, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel, have emerged as beacons of hope. Samson's blistering 107 in the T20I opener against South Africa and Jurel's twin half-centuries in the India A match against Australia A have showcased their exceptional talent.Both players share a common bond with Rajasthan Royals, where Samson serves as captain and Jurel was retained for a hefty sum. Their success can be attributed to the extensive training they receive at the Royals' training center in Talegaon under the guidance of high-performance director Zubin Bharucha.Bharucha emphasizes the importance of high variability in their training regimen. "We try to cover high variability in our preparation," he says. This approach has prepared Jurel for the challenging conditions at the MCG, where he thrived despite the thick grass cover.The Royals also played a crucial role in preparing Samson for the bouncy pitches in South Africa. Bharucha reveals that they had a two-day session with Samson in Dubai, where the pitches are more similar to those in South Africa.Bharucha praises the Royals' commitment to player development, highlighting their investment in Samson's preparation for the South Africa tour. "They flew the bowlers and me from India to Dubai for Samson's practice sessions," he says.The Royals' philosophy is to transform the space between success and failure into a freedom of opportunity for their players. By providing an environment based on high variability and meticulous preparation, they aim to empower their players to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.

Sanju Samson's recent resurgence in international cricket has been attributed to increased clarity from team management and a newfound calmness in his approach. After two consecutive centuries in T20Is, Samson is finally on the cusp of fulfilling his potential.Samson's struggles in the past have been linked to a lack of consistent opportunities with the Indian team. However, with the emergence of a new T20 setup under head coach Gautam Gambhir, Samson has been given the confidence and clarity he needs to succeed."For the first time in my career, I received such clarity, and that gave me confidence," Samson said.Samson's improved form has also been attributed to his experience as captain of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. This role has helped him understand the needs of a team and how to make an impact on a game.Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour believes Samson has become calmer in the last year and has realized he doesn't need to rely on fancy shots to be successful."He has the power to hit big down the ground. He plays fast bowling well and can take them down in front of the wicket," Rathour said.With the next T20 World Cup in 2026 in mind, the selectors and Gambhir are grooming T20 specialists. Samson's recent performances have put him in contention for a permanent spot in the team, even when the likes of Shubman Gill, Yashashvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant return from Test assignments.

Sanju Samson's wife, Charulatha Remesh, expressed her admiration for her husband's remarkable performance in the 1st T20I against South Africa in Durban. Samson's century played a pivotal role in India's victory, marking his second consecutive century in T20Is.Samson's aggressive approach in T20Is has been a key factor in his success. He believes in trusting his shot-making abilities and attacking each ball. This mindset has led to both success and failure, but Samson remains focused on maximizing runs in the first innings.In preparation for the South Africa series, Samson made a conscious switch from playing Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy matches. He believes this adjustment has given him an advantage in understanding the South African conditions and replicating scenarios.Samson's preparation involves practicing on different pitches with various balls to simulate match conditions. He emphasizes the importance of being ready to perform at the international level, which requires hard work and mental effort.Samson's journey to the Indian team has been marked by dedication and perseverance. He is grateful for the opportunity to showcase his talent on the international stage and contribute to India's success.