"The crisis man of India" - Fans erupt as Sanju Samson scores 58 off 45 balls in IND vs ZIM 5th T20I
Sanju Samson starred with the bat in the fifth and final T20I between India and Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday, July 14. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 58 runs off 45 balls with the help of four sixes and one boundary.
During his knock, Samson also treated the fans with a monstrous 110-metre six. He also completed 300 sixes in T20 cricket and became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a fifty in Zimbabwe.
Samson came on the crease after the Men in Blue had lost early wickets, but he rescued them to post a decent target despite losing wickets at regular intervals. He also shared a vital 65-run partnership with Riyan Parag after the visitors were reduced to 40-3.
This was Samson’s only second half-century in T20Is. The Kerala batter had scored an unbeaten 12 in the fourth T20I. The 29-year-old was rested for the first two matches of the five-game series after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Fans on X lauded Samson for his half-century in the final T20I. One user wrote:
"Sanju Samson in his last ODI - Hundred in South Africa. Sanju Samson in his last T20I - fifty in Zimbabwe.The Crisis man of India."
Another user wrote:
"Part of the World Cup-winning squad, Led his IPL team to the top of the table, Can play according to the team's situation. Sanju Samson was the most deserving person to captain this series. He deserves much more."
"Congrats #SanjuSamson on your 2nd international 50. Hope you get chances continuously for your efforts. You can be proud that you've done what you can and what you're supposed to! It's lovely to login to Twitter after a good Samson knock," added one user.
Here are a few more reactions:
Sanju Samson's fifty guides India to 167/6 against Zimbabwe
A clinical batting display from Sanju Samson helped India post 167/6 against Zimbabwe in the fifth T20I. Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag also chipped in with 26 (12) and 22 (24), respectively.
Blessing Muzarabani starred with the ball for Zimbabwe, returning with figures of 2/19, while captain Sikandar Raza, Richard Ngarava and Brandon Mavuta bagged one wicket apiece.
Follow the IND vs ZIM 5th T20I live score and updates here.