Sanju Samson didn’t just chase a target; he chased history. In the fourth T20I at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, the wicketkeeper-batter smashed his 102th T20I six, cementing his place in an elite Indian club of power-hitters. It was a statement innings—56 runs from just 23 deliveries, with a strike rate that would make most batters blush at 243.48.
Context matters here. Only five Indian batters had previously crossed the 100-six threshold. Rohit Sharma towers over the list with 205, followed by Suryakumar Yadav (179) and Abhishek Sharma (141). But Samson’s entry isn’t just a statistical footnote. It places him alongside Virat Kohli (124) and Hardik Pandya (126) as one of the format’s most lethal finishers. The milestone came in style, launching India’s pursuit of West Indies’ 247/3.
The opposition set a tough benchmark. West Indies captain Shai Hope anchored their innings with an unbeaten century, pushing the visitors to 247/3. Samson’s counterattack provided early momentum, but the fight wasn’t over. Keemo Paul ended the innings, taking a catch near the boundary to dismiss Samson for 56. Even in defeat, the message was clear: Samson is in a different gear.
This isn’t an isolated burst. Samson’s 2026 has been fiery—687 runs in 24 innings, averaging nearly 30 at a strike rate close to 180. Seven half-centuries, a top score of 97 not out, and a Player of the Tournament award from the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand. His three consecutive fifties in that tournament, starting with a Super Eight clash against West Indies, were the highlight of India’s third T20 World Cup title.
With 1,719 runs in 76 T20Is, Samson’s overall career stats—average 27.28, strike rate 158.87—show consistency behind the power. Three centuries and ten more fifties back it up. Next up: more matches in this series, but the question isn’t whether Samson can hit sixes. It’s how many more he’ll add before the next record drop.