Sanju Samson’s wait for a major personal milestone has been extended as the wicketkeeper-batter was left out of India’s Playing XI for the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack on Tuesday. Samson needed just 5 runs to complete 1,000 runs in T20 internationals, but the opportunity will now come only if he features in the remaining matches of the five-match series.
A Milestone Within Reach But Put on Hold
Samson has scored 995 runs in 43 innings across 51 T20Is, including 3 centuries and 3 half-centuries—a rare feat in T20I cricket, especially given limited opportunities. His omission from the opening match means fans will have to wait to see him join India’s elite 1,000-run T20I club.
India’s 1,000+ T20I Run Scorers
These are the Indian batters who have crossed the 1,000-run mark in T20 internationals:
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Virat Kohli – 4,188 runs
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Suryakumar Yadav – 2,754 runs
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KL Rahul – 2,265 runs
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Hardik Pandya – 1,860 runs
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Shikhar Dhawan – 1,759 runs
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MS Dhoni – 1,617 runs
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Suresh Raina – 1,605 runs
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Rishabh Pant – 1,209 runs
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Yuvraj Singh – 1,177 runs
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Shreyas Iyer – 1,104 runs
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Abhishek Sharma – 1,012 runs
Samson was set to become the 12th Indian to join this list, but for now, the milestone remains pending.
Tilak Varma Also Chasing 1,000 but Needs More Time
Tilak Varma, too, had an outside chance of moving closer to four figures if included, but he starts much lower in the tally and has a longer path ahead.
Samson Not Included in Cuttack Playing XI
India opted for Jitesh Sharma as the designated wicketkeeper, with Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma forming the top order. Hardik Pandya returned and Jasprit Bumrah led the pace attack.
With four matches still remaining, Samson may get his chance later in the series. For now, the milestone waits.
