Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara was highly impressed with RR’s new captain Sanju Samson's self-belief, attitude, and strategy despite losing a last-ball thriller against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) in Mumbai on Monday (April 12).
Chasing the mammoth 222 for the win in their IPL 2021 opener against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Sanju Samson on his captaincy debut, showed his class and batted brilliantly till the end and even almost took the RR over the line.
Needing five off the last two balls, Samson had refused to take a single, as he sent Chris Morris back on the penultimate ball and then went for a big six when RR needed 5 runs off 1 ball and even he almost did the job.
But was unfortunately caught by Deepak Hooda on the boundary off Arshdeep to end his amazing innings of 119 runs and RR lost the game by just 4 runs against PBKS on Monday in Mumbai.
Reacting to the decision, RR director of cricket Sangakkara backed Samson for the move after the narrow loss in their IPL 14 opener in Mumbai and said it was encouraging to see him take responsibility, but his self-belief, attitude, and commitment were something that impressed him most.
Sangakkara said in a virtual press conference: “Sanju backed himself to get the job done, and he nearly did, he was five or six yards short of hitting that last ball for a six and sometimes when you are hitting the ball well and you are in form, you believe you can do it.”
He added, “It was encouraging to see Sanju do that, you can always talk about a missing single here or there but the crucial thing for me is players' belief and attitude, commitment into what they know their strengths are. Sanju took it upon himself to finish that game and he just fell a few yards short and that happens, but the next time I believe that he will hit that 10 yards further to win us the game.”
On being asked how Samson can become more consistent, the Sri Lankan legend said: “I know when you start off with a bang, you always want to talk about consistency, but the real key is to understand it defers from game to game... it is about constructing an innings on a new day. When he keeps those thought processes simple, there is nothing else for him to worry in terms of technique or execution. I just want him to keep relaxed and focus on just the ball that he is facing.”
Meanwhile, Sangakkara also heaped praise on the team’s young guns Chetan Sakariya – who made impressive IPL debut with 3/31 and stunning catch of Nicholas Pooran and Riyan Parag – who added 52 runs with Samson on way to his 11-ball 25 as well as took the crucial wicket of Chris Gayle on Monday.
Hailing Riyan, the RR Director of Cricket said: “Riyan is a special player, as you would have seen. He has got amazing hand speed, great composure and (Mohammed) Shami with his experience took a risk bowling a bumper at that time, and Riyan just didn't get enough bat on it.”
He added, “That is the nature of the game, that is risk and reward, and I love watching Riyan play with that freedom, and when you play with freedom sometimes wickets do fall. Riyan and Sanju were both having a wonderful partnership and got us into the game, with batters to come to try and finish it. I am really encouraged by the passion and commitment shown by all the younger players.”
About the young pacer Sakariya, Sangakkara said: “He (Sakariya) was just brilliant, his skill was on display but it was really wonderful to watch a bowler in such a high-scoring match, always smiling, always in the game, he took an amazing catch at short fine leg.”
The legendary cricketer further noted, “He managed to come back and bowl with the new ball and then he bowled at the depth when everyone was taking punishment, so it speaks a lot about his skill, his attitude and it is great to have him in the side.”
Son of a tempo driver, Sakariya whose younger brother committed suicide in January while he was playing at the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and after this tragedy, he was picked up by RR for Rs 1.2 crore in the mini-auction in February 2021.
Sangakkara further said of the young pacer, “He is a simple guy, and he's had ups and downs in life and he's here to enjoy his cricket and our job is to support that and it's really good to see the control that he had and the change-ups and picked the moments to bowl them.”
He signed off by saying, “He'll get better and things will get tougher when batsmen get used to him and analyzing a bit more, but I think Chetan is a young man who I think will have a very, very good future.”
(With PTI Inputs)
