Sanju Samson, the current captain of the Rajasthan Royals team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently recalled his first interaction with the franchise that made him a household name. In a conversation with Star Sports, Samson revealed that it was Sreesanth who took him to the Rajasthan Royals trials, where he caught the eye of none other than Rahul Dravid and Paddy Upton.
Samson, who joined the Rajasthan Royals in 2013, had previously been picked by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 8 lakhs in the IPL 2012 auction but did not get the chance to play a single match. However, it was the Royals who saw the potential in the Kerala batter and bought him for INR 10 lakh.
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Speaking about his first interaction with Dravid, Samson said, “I wasn’t expecting much from the trials because I did not know what kind of players they were looking for. It was a two-day trial which however was very special as I have never batted like that ever again.” But his performance caught the attention of the legendary Rahul Dravid, who asked him, “Would you like to play for RR?”
Samson’s response was obvious, and he went on to become an integral part of the Rajasthan Royals squad, even leading the team in the ongoing edition of the IPL. Under his leadership, the team has won four out of six games and currently sits at the top of the 10-team points table.
Samson’s journey with the Rajasthan Royals has been nothing short of remarkable, and he is now regarded as one of the most talented wicketkeeper-batters in the league. In 2022, he led the team to their first-ever final since the inaugural edition in 2008, although they were ultimately defeated by the Gujarat Titans.
The Royals will be taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their next match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, April 23, and fans will no doubt be eager to see Samson in action once again. His journey from a young, aspiring cricketer to the captain of one of the most successful teams in the IPL is an inspiration to many, and his story is a testament to the power of hard work and dedication.