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India T20I opener Sanju Samson has revealed that backing from skipper Suryakumar Yadav helped him get clarity which reflected in his performance.

Samson made the comments after hitting his second consecutive T20I century during the first match against South Africa on Friday (Nov 9).

"When I was playing Duleep Trophy, in the second match, Surya was playing for the other team and during the match itself,  he told me you are going to play next 7 matches, you are going to open the innings in the next 7 games.

Whatever happens, I will fully back you," Samson told the broadcasters after India won the game by 61 runs to take 1-0 lead in the four-match series.

Before the match against SA, Samson had also hit a ton during the third and last T20I against Bangladesh at home he his only the fourth player in the history to hit back-to-back T20I centuries.

"I got so much clarity after that (Surya's backing).

For the first time in my career, I got such clarity that I have 7 matches, so I came out with a different determination.

I had to do something different. If you get such clarity and confidence from captain, then it reflects differently on the ground as well.

The team management gave me that clarity way ahead that 7 matches (3 vs Bangladesh and 4 vs South Africa) I will be opening.

I am not looking too far.

Just looking to contribute to the team's cause," Samson added.

The Kerala batter also 10 sixes during his innings of 107 off 50 balls the most for an Indian batter in a T20I innings.

India have three more matches in the series before they host England for five T20Is in January-February 2025.