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Marco Jansen was seemingly unhappy with Sanju Samson collecting a throw on the pitch during the first T20I between India and South Africa.
The heated exchange resulted in the on-field umpire’s intervention. (Screengrab/JioCinema)
Tempers flared during the first T20I between India and South Africa after Marco Jansen reportedly complained about wicketkeeper Sanju Samson collecting a throw from the deep on the pitch. As Samson shot back at Jansen, India captain Suryakumar Yadav rushed in and confronted the South African fast bowler with the trio involved in a heated exchange before Gerald Coetzee joined in.
The umpire at square leg quickly responded to control the situation with the group dispersing quickly even as Suryakumar and Coetzee – who were IPL teammates at Mumbai Indians earlier this year – continued to have a chat. The incident happened after the second delivery of the 15th over, bowled by legspinner Ravi Bishnoi. However, order was quickly restored.
This was the first time that India and South Africa clashed in a T20I since the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup earlier this year where Rohit Sharma’s men lifted the trophy.
India were put in to bat first in the series opener held in Durban and Samson became the first ever batter from his team to score back-to-back T20I centuries. His blistering 50-ball 107 powered the world champions to 202/8 in 20 overs. Coetzee was the pick of the South African bowlers, finishing with 3/37 from four overs.
Indian bowlers then didn’t allow South African batters to settle in as they kept them under pressure with regular strikes. The spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi shared six wickets as the hosts were bowled out for 141 in 17.5 overs with India winning by 61 runs.
“I’m very grateful about the trust shown on me,” Samson, who won player-of-the-match award, told reporters. “I think I’ve been able to give it back to my team management. I feel that it’s just a start. I would like to just practice hard, train hard, just be very grateful walking out to play for my country and just look to contribute and win games for my country every time I walk in.”
India thus took 1-0 lead in the four-match series. The second match will be held on Sunday in Gqeberha.
