Sanju Samson matches Kohli and Yuvraj's T20I milestones in losing effort against West Indies

Sanju Samson matches Kohli and Yuvraj's T20I milestones in losing effort against West Indies

Sanju Samson produced a spectacular batting display against West Indies on Friday, matching records held by two Indian cricket icons, but his heroics could not prevent India from slipping to a six-wicket defeat in the second T20 international in Ranchi.

The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter hammered 82 runs from just 41 deliveries, striking nine boundaries and four maximums as India compiled an imposing 249 for five. However, the total proved inadequate as the visitors successfully chased down the target, reaching 252 for four in only 18.3 overs to level the five-match series at one apiece.

Fastest fifty equals Kohli's mark

Samson's aggressive approach saw him reach his half-century in a mere 21 deliveries, equalling Virat Kohli's record for the quickest T20I fifty by an Indian against West Indies. Kohli had set the benchmark during a match at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in December 2019.

The blistering start contributed to India posting 79 for one during the powerplay, their highest score in the opening six overs against the Caribbean side in T20 international cricket.

Strike rate milestone matches Yuvraj

Samson's innings also saw him draw level with Yuvraj Singh on another significant metric. Both players now share the distinction of scoring five T20I half-centuries at a strike rate exceeding 200.

Among Indian batters, Suryakumar Yadav leads this particular category with 13 such innings, according to Loksatta, while Abhishek Sharma follows with 12. Samson and Yuvraj are now joint third on the list with five apiece.

Hope and Rutherford spoil India's night

Despite the massive total, West Indies captain Shai Hope delivered a match-winning performance with an unbeaten 102 from 45 balls. He received strong support from Sherfane Rutherford, who contributed a rapid 84 from 37 deliveries.

The successful chase represented the second-highest run chase in men's T20 international history, showcasing the explosive batting prowess of the Caribbean team.

For Samson, the innings marked a crucial return to form following a disappointing start to the series. While he achieved two significant records and compiled 82 runs, the absence of a team victory left the performance bittersweet.

The series now stands level with three matches remaining, setting up an intriguing contest as both teams look to gain the upper hand.