Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain has said that nobody according to him can become MS Dhoni and that he would like to be himself. The wicketkeeper-batsman will lead RR for the first time in IPL on April 12 against Punjab Kings.
Rajasthan Royals’ newly-appointed captain Sanju Samson has reckoned that no one can be like legendary Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni. While responding to his comparisons with MS Dhoni, the 26-year-old added that being “Sanju Samson was good enough”.
Sanju Samson Would Like To Be Himself
The wicketkeeper-batsman has often been compared with the former India skipper for his attacking form of cricket and calm demeanour. The comparisons, last year, gained momentum after Sanju Samson played some blistering innings in the starting few matches of IPL 2020 while representing the inaugural IPL 2008 champions.
“I don’t think anyone can be like MS Dhoni. I would like to be myself. Sanju Samson will be good enough,” the Rajasthan Royals website quoted Samson as saying ahead of the IPL 2021.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has a long association with Rajasthan Royals but he never ever imagined leading the franchise one day. Sanju Samson scored 375 runs averaging 28.84 in IPL 2020 with 3 fifties. He has amassed 2584 runs in 107 IPL games averaging 27.78. He played for Rajasthan Royals from 2013 but was associated with the Delhi franchise in 2016 and 2017 when Rajasthan was banned for two seasons for the match-fixing offence.
Sanju Samson Never Felt That He Will Lead Rajasthan Royals One Day In IPL
The Kerala-born batsman revealed that the team owner himself called and asked him to take up the role of skipper. Notably, Steve Smith, who captained the Rajasthan-based franchise in IPL 13, was released ahead of the upcoming season. Steve Smith was sold to Delhi Capitals for INR 2.2 Crores.
Steve Smith who took charge from Ajinkya Rahane in the middle of the season in 2019 failed to live up to his expectations scoring 311 runs averaging only 25.91 with 3 fifties in IPL 2020.
“To be very honest, until last year, I never felt that I may possibly be the leader of the Royals. Our own owner, Manoj Badale told me that the franchise wants me to lead the team and asked me to take this role,” Samson said.
The young leader is happy with the players acquired in the IPL 2021 mini-auction held in Chennai. He has stated that every member of the team will play a crucial role in the upcoming edition.
“I think our team management did a fantastic job in the auction and we got almost every player we wanted. Each and every player’s role is going to be crucial in this season,” Samson added.
IPL 2021 will begin on April 9 with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) clashing against each other in the tournament opener. Rajasthan Royals will play their first game on April 12 against Punjab Kings in Mumbai.
Probable Rajasthan Royals XI: Yasahasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler (wk), Sanju Samson (c), Ben Stokes, Shivam Dube, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Shreyas Gopal, Mustafizur Rahman, Kartik Tyagi, Jaydev Unadkat