Sanju Samson joins Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli in elite T20I club after quick 56 off 23 against West Indies

Sanju Samson added another milestone to his T20I career on Wednesday, becoming only the sixth Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in the format during the fourth T20I against West Indies at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The wicketkeeper-batter reached the landmark in style while launching India's pursuit of a daunting 248-run target, producing an explosive 56 off just 23 deliveries.Samson's aggressive innings featured six fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 243.48, giving India early momentum after West Indies captain Shai Hope struck an unbeaten century to power the visitors to 247/3. However, Samson's counterattack ended when Keemo Paul dismissed him for 56, with Shimron Hetmyer completing a catch near the boundary.Samson joins India's elite six-hitting clubWith 102 sixes to his name in T20Is, Samson has joined an exclusive group of Indian batters to have crossed the 100-six mark. Rohit Sharma leads the list with 205 sixes, followed by Suryakumar Yadav with 179.Abhishek Sharma, who had 141 sixes at the time of filing, is third on the list, while Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli have struck 126 and 124 sixes, respectively.A productive year for SamsonThe milestone comes amid a productive year for the Kerala-born batter. Samson has scored 687 runs in 24 matches and innings in 2026, averaging 29.86 at a strike rate of 178.44. His tally includes seven half-centuries, with a highest score of 97 not out.One of the defining phases of his year came during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, when Samson registered three consecutive half-centuries, beginning with a Super Eight clash against West Indies and continuing through the final against New Zealand. His performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award and helped India secure their third T20 World Cup title.Samson's overall T20I recordIn 76 T20Is and 68 innings, Samson has accumulated 1,719 runs at an average of 27.28 and a strike rate of 158.87. His international record includes three centuries and 10 half-centuries.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.