Trent Boult is one of the premier pacers in the world, and arguably the best with the new ball in hand. The Kiwi spearhead was instrumental in New Zealand reaching two World Cup finals, winning the World Test Championship last year and played a massive role in Mumbai Indians‘ success in 2020.
Now, he’s shifted to Rajasthan Royals and has been key to the Royals’ march this season. In 8 matches, he has taken 8 wickets at an economy of 8.56.
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Speaking in an interview with ESPNcricinfo recently, he was asked who is the Indian batsman that has played him the best. While one could expect names like Sanju Samson or Devdutt Padikkal or even the stylish Riyan Parag, Boult said it is Karun Nair who has been picking his lengths and variations better than all of the Indian batters in the RR camp.
“I haven’t bowled Karun Nair in a game. But he has the ability to pick any kind of ball I throw him in the nets. So at the moment I am gonna say Karun Nair,” Boult told ESPNcricinfo.
RR have preferred to play the likes of Parag and Jaiswal ahead of Karun Nair. The Karnataka batter has got chances only twice in the eleven and got to bat only once, wherein he managed just 3 runs in 5 balls before being dropped altogether.
Boult was then also asked to describe Sanju Samson’s captaincy in three words. “Positive. Influential. Calm,” Trent Boult responded.
Samson has got plenty of praises from all corners for his captaincy on the field, his leadership off it, as well as for his good form, although a big knock is still in the wait from the Kerala batter.
Royals are sitting third on the points table with 6 wins in 9 matches and they have optimistic chances of finishing in the top four. While Buttler has taken up the anchor role, Samson has been batting aggressively, having scored 244 runs at a strike rate of 168.
