"His international career has started again after this knock" - Gautam Gambhir praises Sanju Samson's century in 3rd ODI vs SA

Former India player Gautam Gambhir believes star India batter Sanju Samson’s century in the third ODI between India and South Africa will give a much-needed boost to his international career. Samson scored 108 runs off 114 deliveries as the Indian team set a 297-run target for South Africa in the series decider in Paarl on Thursday. India then bowled out the hosts for 218 to complete a 78-run win and register just their second ODI series win in the Rainbow Nation.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir shared his thoughts. He said: “We all know how much talent Sanju Samson has. Not only us, everyone has spoken about it, the sort of knocks he has played in the IPL or T20 cricket. I believe he has kickstarted his international career with this knock. He used to get intermittent chances before this but when you score a hundred, you push the selectors and put pressure on them to give you regular chances in ODI cricket.”

However, Sanju Samson added 52 runs for the third wicket with KL Rahul (21 off 35) after India were struggling to 49/2 in the eighth over. He then added together a 116-run fourth-wicket partnership with Tilak Varma (52 off 77) to make sure that the Indian set a challenging total for the South African team.

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‘He should definitely be persisted with,’ says Gautam Gambhir on Sanju Samason

Gautam Gambhir also said that his hope for Sanju Samson to be given a longer run in ODI cricket as well. He also stated that Samson showed an excellent wicketkeeping option in the middle order as well.

“It needs to be seen whether they will persist with Sanju Samson in ODI cricket because the next World Cup is after four years. However, the quality of player Sanju is, I believe he should definitely be persisted with,” Gautam Gambhir concluded. “The way he keeps as well, you have an excellent option in the middle order. You will always have a heavy top order but Sanju gives you a middle-order option plus wicketkeeping. So I feel his international career has started again after this knock.”