India, Dec. 19 -- Playing his first match for India since the Asia Cup in September, Sanju Samson put up a short yet entertaining show in the 5th T20I against South Africa at Ahmedabad Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday. Back opening the inning for India after Shubman Gill was ruled out, Samson struck four boundaries and a six to eclipse his in-form partner Abhishek Sharma, who has by far been India's greatest T20I batter of this year. Samson played beautifully for 37 off 22 balls before he was castled by left-arm spinner George Linde.

And to think that had it not been for Gill's injury, Samson would have warmed the benches for India. First pushed lower into the batting order, then dropped from the Playing XI completely, Samson's treatment ...