Parthiv Patel, the former India wicket-keeper has named Sanju Samson as the most influential captain of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The 27-year-old has led the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to their first playoff finish since 2018 after finishing second in the points table.
Sanju Samson was named the franchise’s captain following the release of Steve Smith in 2021. The Kerala-born batter endured a rough time as captain for the first time at the helm after finishing seventh in the IPL 2021. A fresh squad following the mega auction was the perfect catalyst for Sanju Samson as he led the inaugural winners to nine wins in the ongoing tournament.
Parthiv Patel: Sanju Samson Has Been The Most Influential Captain In IPL 2022
Sanju Samson had scored 374 runs in 14 games averaging 28.77 including 2 fifties in IPL 2022. The right-hander was retained ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction for INR 14 Crores and he helped Rajasthan Royals to qualify for playoffs in the IPL 2022.
Unlike other seasons, Sanju Samson had an excellent outing in the last edition (IPL 2021) scoring 484 runs in 14 games at an average of 40. He is RR’s 2nd highest run-getter this season. His strike rate of 147.24 is good but he must show more consistency to be selected for the Indian team.
Praising Sanju Samson for his calmness on the field and astute decision-making, Parthiv Patel said: “Samson has been the most influential captain in IPL 2022. He has looked calm this season, there was a lot of surety in his decision-making. Samson has improved a lot when it comes to his captaincy.”
The wicket-keeper batter will play his first playoff contest as captain against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday, May 24. The Sanju Samson-led outfit boast of both the Orange and Purple Cap holders this season in Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal respectively.
They also have the experience of Ravichandran Ashwin whose versatility has come to the fore, especially in the second half of the season. Ravichandran Ashwin’s batting has also made a huge difference.
Parthiv Patel: Trent Boult Will Benefit With The Pitch Being Under Covers
The surface at Eden Gardens is currently undercover following bouts of rain in the state capital. The match could face interruptions in the form of showers, leading to a shortened contest or even a super-over, if the disruptions do not cease.
Opining that Trent Boult will benefit from the moisture on the surface under covers, Parthiv Patel said: “Boult will be very happy with the pitch being under covers. Even if the pitch is not damp, the weather will be humid, and that will favor swing. He will hope that it does not rain too much, but the weather remains humid.”
The New Zealand pacer’s impact in the tournament gradually decreased with the pitches aging in Maharashtra. He could be bestowed with a breath of fresh air at Eden Gardens, which has something in it for the pacers early on.
Opining that RR should go with an unchanged playing XI for Qualifier 1, former Indian batter Virender Sehwag said during the same interaction as Patel: “I don’t any change is required for RR. Jaiswal is batting really well since making his way back into the playing XI.
“The batting looks deeper now, Ashwin is also playing well, which is a plus point for them. The bowling is also well-rounded. If there is something in the wicket, then Kuldeep Sen could be considered, otherwise don’t see any change. “
Trent Boult, the Kiwi pacer was bought in the IPL 2022 mega auction for INR 8 Crore from the marquee set after an intense bidding war. The left-arm seamer can hit 140 Kmph at times and likes to swing it both ways with the new ball. He is especially very dangerous against the left-hand batters.
The 32-year-old has a lot of IPL experience under his belt now. He has picked 13 scalps in as many games averaging 31.69 at an economy rate of 8.24 in IPL 2022 so far. He is RR’s 3rd highest wicket-taker so far. RR went with a solitary change in the last contest, bringing in the returning Shimron Hetmyer for Jimmy Neesham.