Sanju Samson made a statement on his return to international cricket by achieving a remarkable double milestone during the fifth T20I between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, December 19. The stylish wicketkeeper-batter reached 8,000 runs in men’s T20 cricket while also completing 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals, underlining his credentials with a memorable performance.
With this feat, Samson became only the seventh Indian cricketer to cross the 8,000-run mark in T20s, joining an illustrious list that includes Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suryakumar Yadav, Suresh Raina and KL Rahul. At the same time, he also entered the elite group of 14 Indian batters who have amassed 1,000 or more runs in T20Is.
True to his attacking instincts, Samson reached both milestones in emphatic fashion. Facing South African pacer Marco Jansen, the 31-year-old displayed exceptional wrist work to flick a length delivery over mid-on for a six, sending the Ahmedabad crowd into a frenzy. After opening his account with a single, Samson quickly shifted gears, punishing Jansen with a towering hit that sealed his place in the record books.
The Rajasthan Royals captain’s achievement further strengthens his reputation as one of India’s most elegant and explosive T20 batters. Despite inconsistent opportunities at the international level, Samson’s numbers across domestic and franchise cricket continue to highlight his immense value in the shortest format.
Indian Batters with 8,000+ Runs in Men’s T20 Cricket
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Virat Kohli – 13,543 runs (414 matches)
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Rohit Sharma – 12,248 runs (463 matches)
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Shikhar Dhawan – 9,797 runs (334 matches)
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Suryakumar Yadav – 8,970 runs (345 matches)
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Suresh Raina – 8,654 runs (336 matches)
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KL Rahul – 8,125 runs (239 matches)
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Sanju Samson – 8,000 runs (319 matches)*
Fresh Opportunity at a Crucial Time
Samson was drafted into the playing XI after replacing an injured Shubman Gill, who had struggled for form in the ongoing series, scoring just 32 runs in his first three outings. Gill picked up the injury ahead of the Lucknow T20I, prompting the Indian team management to make multiple changes for the Ahmedabad fixture.
This match marked Samson’s first T20I appearance since the Australia tour in October, making his performance even more significant. With the T20 World Cup squad set to be announced on Saturday, December 20, the Kerala batter will be keen to capitalize on this opportunity and strengthen his case for selection in the marquee tournament, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next year.