Sanju Samson has the amount of supporters that biggest players have: Dinesh Karthik

In a thrilling series decider against South Africa, Sanju Samson emerged as the star, silencing doubts with a spectacular maiden century. Dinesh Karthik lauded Samson's performance, highlighting his loyal global fanbase. Despite being omitted from the Indian ODI World Cup squad in October, Samson's resilience shone through as he powered India to a series-clinching victory against the Proteas.

Taking the crease in the 5th over at the Boland Park, Paarl, the right-handed batter's masterful 108 off 114 balls steered India to a formidable 296-run total. His stellar batting display not only redeemed his prowess but also showcased his mental fortitude after a draining World Cup snub period. Supported by an equally good bowling effort, India restricted South Africa to a mere 218 runs, securing a commanding 78-run win and claiming the series 2-1.

"Sanju Samson has been in the Indian team for many years, not been part of many multi-nation tournaments. World speaks highly of him, he has the amount of supporters that the biggest players have, the love and affection of a lot of people. And he showed today why he has that," Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

"In a series decider, gets his opportunity at No. 3, which he is very comfortable with, comes in, takes on the pressure, stitches a 52-run partnership with KL Rahul, but it was after that, that was very, very good what he did. In the 19th over, when KL Rahul fell to Wiaan Mulder, Samson and Tilak Varma really soaked the pressure between 19–35 overs. They were not getting boundaries at that stage," he added.

Samson’s limited but promising international exposure

The Kerala batters's journey to his remarkable century in the final showdown against South Africa was a tale of overcoming setbacks. Despite facing disappointments such as missing out on opportunities in the Asia Cup and exclusion from the World Cup squad, his stellar performance not only silenced doubters but also bolstered his credentials for a more significant role in limited-overs cricket. During his innings, he encountered a challenging phase when spinners Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj tightened the screws, making scoring difficult.

However, his composure prevailed, and he stepped up the tempo in the latter stages when the situation demanded acceleration. Before his century, Samson's limited international exposure included just 15 ODIs and 24 T20Is. While concerns loomed over his T20I average, which has seated below 20, his 50-over format record displayed promise with an impressive average of 50.25, striking at 101.