Sanju Samson Achieves 9,000 T20 Runs in Thrilling Match Against Afghanistan

Samson Reaches Milestone in T20 Cricket

New Delhi, September 17: Indian opener Sanju Samson marked a significant milestone by scoring 9,000 runs in T20 cricket during the final T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday.

Samson achieved this feat with an explosive start, hitting back-to-back sixes off Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi in the fifth over. He now boasts a total of 9,027 runs across 351 T20 matches, which includes eight centuries and 57 half-centuries.

Continuing his impressive form, he secured his second consecutive T20I half-century, reaching 50 runs off 35 balls before being dismissed by Azmatullah Omarzai in the 14th over. His innings featured two fours and four sixes.

In T20Is, Samson has accumulated 1,549 runs in 69 matches, averaging 28 with a strike rate of 158, including three centuries and seven fifties.

This remarkable achievement came during a record-setting opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma, who scored a phenomenal 108 runs off just 34 balls, leading India to a total of 221 for seven after being put to bat first.

Abhishek initiated the onslaught early, scoring 16 runs off Azmatullah Omarzai in the second over and following it up with 22 runs off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the next. India raced to 56 runs without losing a wicket after four overs.

While Samson reached his 9,000 T20 runs in the fifth over, Abhishek also reached his half-century in just 16 balls, contributing to India's impressive score of 85 for no loss after six overs.

Abhishek continued his aggressive batting, achieving his third T20I century in a record 31 balls, making him the fastest Indian to reach this milestone and the quickest from any Test-playing nation, surpassing Rohit Sharma's previous record of 35 balls against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Rashid Khan eventually dismissed Abhishek in the 10th over, with the left-handed batsman scoring 108 runs, which included nine fours and 11 sixes.

At the halfway mark, India was at 142 for one, but soon lost Tilak Varma for just two runs. Samson then completed his half-century before being dismissed by Omarzai.

Shreyas Iyer added 29 runs, while Shivam Dube and Ishan Kishan contributed 14 and 10 runs, respectively, as India surpassed the 200-run mark in the 16th over. Despite losing two quick wickets towards the end, India finished strong at 221 for seven in their allotted overs.

Omarzai claimed two wickets for Afghanistan, while Rashid Khan and Abdullah Ahmadzai took one wicket each.