Sanju Samson’s take on rule releasing players in IPL

Samson also heaped praise on 13-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and said that it should be all about understanding his strengths, backing him and being there for him like an elder brother

MUMBAI: Sanju Samson of Rajasthan Royals said if he could change one thing in the IPL, he would change the rule of releasing players.

“While it has its positives, on a personal level, you lose connections and relationships built over years. It has been hard for me, the entire franchise, the owners, the coaches, and everyone associated with RR. Jos was family to us,” the star batter said in an interaction with Jio Hotstar, reflecting on Jos Buttler’s departure from Royals.

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“We played together for seven years, forming a long batting partnership. We knew each other so well and always kept in touch. He was like an elder brother to me. When I became captain, he was my vice-captain and played a huge role in helping me lead the team,” he said.

Samson also heaped praise on 13-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and said that it should be all about understanding his strengths, backing him and being there for him like an elder brother.

“Vaibhav looks very confident; he was hitting sixes out of the ground at the academy. People were already talking about his power-hitting,” he said. “I think Vaibhav looks ready to contribute. The key is to keep him in the best shape and provide a relaxed environment, which is something Rajasthan Royals (RR) is known for,” Samson said.

On Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, and Shimron Hetmyer in the squad, Sanju said having players who were already part of the team creates a great connection. “It makes my job easier because we know each other well, both on and off the field, and that helps in better team coordination,” he said.

On his relationship with MS Dhoni, Samson described how much he values spending time with the legendary cricketer.

“Like every young Indian cricketer, I always wanted to be around MS Dhoni. Every time we played against CSK, I wanted to sit and talk to him, ask him how he does things,” he said. “It was a dream for me. I remember playing a match against CSK in Sharjah, where I finally performed well, scored around 70-80 runs, won the game, and became the Man of the Match. After that, I met Mahi bhai, and since then, our relationship has grown,” Samson said.

“Even now, I meet him often. Just yesterday, I met him again. It’s truly a blessed feeling—to go from idolising him to now sitting with him for shoots and events. I feel like I’m living my dream,” he concluded.