NEW DELHI: After a remarkable run of form with consecutive hundreds, India batter Sanju Samson has unexpectedly found himself on the opposite end of the spectrum, recording back-to-back ducks.
The shift in performance has taken fans by surprise, as Samson was previously celebrated for his consistent and impactful scoring.
Live Blog: India vs South Africa, 3rd T20IThe 30-year-old recorded another forgettable stat. He became only the second batter from a Full Member side to collect five ducks in a calendar year after Zimbabwe's Regis Chakabva in 2022.
During the second match of the series at Gqeberha, Samson's stumps were rattled by fast bowler Marco Jansen. The wicketkeeper-batsman struggled against the left-arm quick Jansen, who dismissed him in a similar fashion during the third encounter on Wednesday.
Also See: Live Cricket ScoreIn the first game of the series in Durban, Sanju Samson delivered an explosive 107 off just 50 balls, striking at an impressive rate of 214.00. His innings featured seven fours and ten towering sixes.
Prior to this, Samson had scored his maiden T20I century against Bangladesh in the third and final match in Hyderabad last month.
In the process, Samson, who got to his hundred in 40 balls, also surpassed skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who did it in 45 balls, to become second fastest Indian to get to the landmark.
Earlier, Samson accepted that he has faced a lot of failures in his career.
"I feel honestly, I have faced a lot of failures in my career. Actually, I have had more failures than success in my career. When you go through that fear, you tend to doubt yourself a lot. People will say a lot and social media will play its role. But you also think a lot about yourself...," Samson said.
The wicketkeeper-batter added that he has shot-making ability against spin and pace.
"But with my experience, I know my abilities. If I spend some time on the wicket, I have the shot-making ability against spin and pace. I know I can help the team with my contributions. So I always used to tell myself that, even if you have lows, the upside is also good," he added.
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less