Sanju Samson Reflects on Career Turning Point After Cape Town Century

Sanju Samson revealed that his century in Cape Town against South Africa in December 2023 was the turning point that proved he belonged at the international level.

Indian batter Sanju Samson considers his first international century against South Africa in December 2023 at Cape Town as the defining moment of his career. The knock gave him confidence that he belonged at the highest level and strengthened his game. Following this milestone, Samson scored three more centuries in T20Is over the next two years, cementing his place in India’s T20I setup.

“I think that was getting my first international hundred in South Africa. I was in and out of the side, playing a few games here and there. Knew deep down that I was good enough to play at the international level, the biggest stage cricket has ever seen. But until you prove it to people, you don’t get acceptance,” Samson said on the Sports Cast podcast.

“After that hundred, I don’t know what people were saying, but in my own head, I was totally convinced that yes, Sanju, you are made for this level. That was the moment when a lot of things changed internally. It was a series decider, and I knew if I didn’t perform, I could be dropped. So when I scored that challenging hundred, I told myself, if you can do this, you are meant for something even bigger,” he added.

Sanju Samson Dropped From ODI Squad

Notably, coach Gautam Gambhir has shown strong faith in Samson, ensuring he remains a key part of India’s T20 plans. During the 2025 Asia Cup, Samson adjusted to a lower batting position after Shubman Gill’s inclusion, with wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma initially considered ahead of him.

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However, Sanju Samson is currently out of India’s ODI squad. KL Rahul leads as the first-choice batter, with Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel selected as backups for the upcoming Australia series. The three-match series begins in Perth on October 19, followed by matches at Adelaide Oval on October 23 and Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25. All games will start at 9:00 AM IST.