Sanju Samson has now spent 8 seasons at the Rajasthan Royals having made the debut for the franchise in 2013; barring the 2016 and 2017 seasons when RR were banned and Samson was bought by Delhi Daredevils, he’s been with the Royals, growing in stature and was appointed their skipper last year.
Samson recalled a special memory involving former RR captain Rahul Dravid. During his two-day trial for the Royals in 2013, Dravid was consistently praising him as the youngster played his strokes.
“One of the most special moments in my life, I batted for two days there [trials], and did not bat like this in my entire life. After hitting every shot, the voice from behind would say, ‘Shot Sanju’, and it was really magic for me. Before the trials, he said to me you have been doing well in the domestic circuit, very much excited to see you,” Sanju Samson said on Breakfast with Champions show on YouTube.
Quarantine going strong
pic.twitter.com/1UwGvJILK2
— Sanju Samson (@IamSanjuSamson) March 17, 2022
Then, Samson revealed his time batting together with Dravid in the middle. He said that Dravid had asked him to settle himself first, and then unleash on the bowlers, which he did after getting the license from the then RR captain.
“In my first or second match in the season, I came at one down, and Rahul sir was the opener. I knew I had the license to hit, and did it on the very first ball by hooking, which went for four. Then Rahul sir came and said, Sanju take your time, a couple of balls and see what you can do. In the next ball, I again hit a boundary off the bouncer, and then he said, keep going,” Samson remembered.
In only his second IPL match in 2013, versus RCB, Samson was the Man of the Match for his thrilling 41-ball 63. He hasn’t looked back since.
— Sanju Samson (@IamSanjuSamson) March 21, 2022
2013 was Dravid’s last IPL season but Samson and Dravid’s partnership continued with the legend taking the role of coach and mentor for Royals and then Delhi till 2016.
“Then after two years, we moved to Delhi [Daredevils], he was a coach of the team. Along with me, Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal, and Rishabh Pant were present. He said to all of us, you will play for the Indian team, and that was special for every youngster. During those three to four years I spent with him, I covered everything,” Samson added.
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