'He Has Always Belonged Here, Mind You': Gavaskar Says Century vs SA will 'Change Sanju Samson's Career'

Sanju Samson stole the show against South Africa with his maiden ODI hundred on Thursday in Paarl. The Kerala batter rose to the occasion in a must-win game, smashing 108 off 114 balls with the help of 3 sixes and 6 boundaries. He also featured in a game-changing partnership of 116 runs with Tilak Varma for the fourth wicket, setting the base for India’s mammoth 296-run total on a tricky track.

The century was a statement made by Sanju who has been in and out of the team since making his debut in 2021. His classical knock not only powered the team in the absence of senior pros but also left former captain Sunil Gavaskar highly impressed.

Speaking with Star Sports Network, Gavaskar heaped praise on the Kerala batter’s shot selection and said the century against South Africa will ‘change his career’

“The standout for me from this innings was his shot selection. In the past, he has gotten out despite getting starts. Today, you couldn’t fault him at all, he was biding his time, waiting for the bad ball, and then getting a hundred. I think this hundred is going to change his career. One, he will get more opportunities because of this hundred,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.

Promoted to bat at the No.3 position, Samson’s knock helped India register their fourth-highest total against South Africa in the ODIs. Gavaskar also believes that the century will boost Samson’s confidence, stating that the right-hand batter has delivered for himself.

“Secondly, I think he will also start to believe in himself more that he belongs to this level. Sometimes you know you are there, but the luck is not with you and things like that. You get a tremendous delivery, and a great catch, all these things can make you doubt whether you actually belong there. This century will make him believe he belongs here. He has always belonged here, mind you. We all know the talent he has. But somehow he had not delivered, but today he delivered not just for everybody but for himself as well,” Gavaskar added.

After winning the ODI series 2-1, India will now shift focus to the last leg of the tour – the 2 Tests against the hosts, starting December 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion.