Rajasthan Royals (RR) batsman Sanju Samson is making IPL 2020 his own with 167 runs in 3 innings averaging over 50, that too at a Strike Rate of over 200. He has had one of the best starts to an IPL season in the last 8 years since he made his debut in IPL 2013.
In his debut season, he played alongside Rahul Dravid for Rajasthan Royals and it was like a dream come true for him. He also learned a lot under 'Rahul Dravid the coach' while playing for India A and Delhi Daredevils.
Samson told BBC's Test Match Special, "Never had it in my dreams that I will be batting with Rahul Dravid one day. The first match or second match of mine and I was batting with him at the non-striker end. It's one of the best memories of my cricketing career."
"After that, he started coaching and mentoring Rajasthan Royals and then he came to India A, so I spent almost 7-8 years with him, learning about cricket and learning about myself. I think he is a really good teacher. He tells you how to do things in a simpler way, there are many people who make it a bit complicated but he makes it really simple for any most everyone. Everyone in India A contacts him when in problem," he added.
IPL 2020: Sanju Samson says after a lot of deliberation, he dedicated himself wholly to cricket
The Kerala batsman is now a senior cricketer in the RR squad and has to take the U19 cricketers in their side under his wings. He reveals that this sense of responsibility has come to him from the likes of Dravid, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shane Watson, who were there for him in his younger days.
The 25-year-old said, "Nobody told me that 'Sanju you are 25 and now you the senior-most player in the team and have to take care of the youngsters'. That automatically happened to me because when I came here I had Rahul sir to take care of me, Ajinkya Rahane bhai was there Shane Watson was there."
"So automatically when the youngsters come in after U-19 cricket, I believe that I must be the guy to tell them how things are and how things can be. I have come the same pathway and so it will be easier for me to help them out," Samson added.
(With inputs from India Today)
