IPL 2021: I am proud and happy to lead the team which I have grown up with – Sanju Samson

Rajasthan Royals have named Sanju Samson as their skipper for IPL 2021 season as they decided to release Steve Smith. Samson stated that he is proud and happy that he will be leading the team with which he has grown up and that team is more than a family to him.

Samson was part of KKR in IPL 2012 but didn’t get many opportunities there. Soon, Samson made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals back in IPL 2013 when he was spotted by Rahul Dravid. Samson scored 27 runs from 23 balls on his debut and had added the finishing touches in the run chase against Kings XI Punjab.

Since then Samson has come a long way in his IPL career and has played some flamboyant knocks. The right-hander from Kerala has scored 2584 runs in 107 IPL matches at an average of 27.78.

Samson has played under the leadership of players like Rahul Dravid, Ajinkya Rahane, and Steve Smith and he must have learned a lot from them. If Samson can deliver the goods as a leader of the team, it will give him a lot of confidence.

“I am so proud and happy to captain the team which I have grown up with, the team which is more than a family to me. Very happy and excited for the season ahead,” Sanju Samson said in a video uploaded by the Royals.

Samson has impressed one and all with his pure timing and he is a treat to the eyes when he gets going. The right-hander can also take the game away from the opposition with his blistering batting as he has a strike rate of 133.75 and he has the skills to hit the ground running.

However, there is no doubt that Samson needs to get more consistent in his performances. Samson can sometimes play a rash shot and he would look to add more maturity in his game. Now with the added responsibility of captaincy, it would be interesting to note how the youngster will cop up with pressure.