'This century will change his career' - Sunil Gavaskar predicts bright future for Sanju Samson following first ODI ton

Sanju Samson made his international debut back in 2015. However, he had to wait for eight years before registering his maiden international century. He achieved the feat during the third and final ODI between South Africa and India at Boland Park, Paarl, on Thursday, December 21.

Batting first, India posted 296/8 on the back of a 114-ball 108 for Samson. Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was effusive in his praise for the wicketkeeper-batter and predicted that the century would change his career for the good.

“This century will change his career. He always belonged here. We all know the talent that he has. We have all been saying look at the talent that he has got but not yet delivered. Today he delivered. Not just for everybody for himself too,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

I feel really emotional, really happy to get the hundred: Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson batted at No. 3 for the first time in the series. In the first game, he didn't get to bat, while in the second, he came in to bat at No. 5 and was dismissed for 12. The 29-year-old made his promotion count by helping the tourists get to a formidable total. After the superlative knock, Sanju spoke about the physical and mental hard work that is helping him see the results.

“I feel really emotional, going through the emotions now. I am very happy to achieve this. I have been putting in a lot of work, both physically and mentally, and I am happy to see the results go my way now. They bowled really well with the new ball, and the older ball was getting slower and more difficult to bat. So after KL got out, they had momentum, and Maharaj was bowling very well. But me and Tilak stuck it out and went strong at the end. We were playing an extra all-rounder today, so me and Tilak had decided that we had to go hard from the 40th over onwards," said Sanju Samson following the innings.

The Indian bowlers rallied well to bowl out South Africa for 218 in 45.5 overs, as Tony de Zorzi's 81-run knock off 87 balls went in vain. Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball, picking up a four-for. India won by 78 runs to win the ODI series 2-1.