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Rajasthan Royals skipper and star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has revealed who helped him shape into a good captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a recent interview, Samson revealed that his close friend and teammate Jos Buttler, played an instrumental role in shaping his captaincy skills at RR. He talked about Buttler's influence and how the strong bond between the two contributed to his growth as a leader within the team.
Sanju Samson on how Jos Buttler helped him become a good captain
Moreover, Samson expressed his views on the structure of the Indian Premier League (IPL), advocating for a big rule change. He believes that changes are necessary to safeguard the personal connections and relationships among players, which can be strained by the current system. In the same interaction, Samson discussed the difficult choices inherent in team management, particularly referencing the potential release of Jos Buttler ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction. He described this as one of the most challenging decisions he has faced.
"The IPL gives you the opportunity to lead a team and play at the highest level, and it also allows you to build close friendships. Jos Buttler is one of my closest friends. We played together for seven years. During this time, our batting partnership time itself is so long that we got to know each other so well. He has been like an elder brother to me. Whenever I had a doubt, I would talk to him. When I became captain [in 2021], he was my vice-captain and helped me become a good captain," Samson told JioHotstar.
"Letting him go has been one of the most challenging decisions for me. During the England series, I told him over dinner that I was still not over it. If I could change one thing in the IPL, I would change the rule of releasing players every three years. While it has its positives, on a personal level, you lose that connect, that relation you built over years. He was a part of the family. What more can I say?," Samson added.
Buttler's tenure with the RR in the IPL was marked by exceptional performance, spanning from 2018 to 2024. During this period, he solidified his position as the franchise's leading run-scorer, amassing an impressive 3055 runs in 83 matches. His consistent contributions were reflected in his remarkable average of 41.84 and a striking strike rate of 147.79, showcasing his impact as a key player for RR.
Despite his notable contributions to the team's success, RR made the strategic decision to release Buttler ahead of the highly anticipated IPL 2025 mega auction.
In their retention strategy, RR prioritised retaining key players, including Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sandeep Sharma, committing a total of INR 79 crore. Notably, the franchise opted to retain Shimron Hetmyer over Buttler. Subsequently, Jos Buttler was acquired by the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the mega auction for a substantial sum of INR 15.75 crore.
While Sanju Samson faces the prospect of leading the RR in the IPL 2025 without the familiar support of Buttler, he will benefit immensely from the presence of a cricketing legend within the team's ranks. Rahul Dravid has returned to the RR as coach, a move that strengthens the team's leadership and mentorship. Samson expressed his profound gratitude and excitement regarding Dravid's return, emphasizing the invaluable opportunity to work alongside the former Indian captain.
"Rahul sir was the one who spotted me from the trials. He came up to me and said, 'Can you play for my team?' From there to now, with me being the captain of the franchise and he coming back - I'm very grateful, as we all are in the franchise, to have Rahul sir back," the veteran Kerala batter stated.
"I have played under him [at RR] as a player when he was the captain and I have played under him in the Indian team when he was the coach. But a captain-coach relationship is very special and I'm very much looking forward to learning a lot from him. He is a top-notch professional and makes sure everything is done properly," Samson concluded.
RR's full schedule for IPL 2025:
Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad - March 23 - 3:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Guwahati - March 26 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati - March 30 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings in Chandigarh - April 5 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad - April 9 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Jaipur - April 13 - 3:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals in Delhi - April 16 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur - April 19 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru - April 24 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans in Jaipur - April 28 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians in Jaipur - May 1 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata - May 4 - 3:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings in Chennai - May 12 - 7:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings in Jaipur - May 16 - 7:30 PM
RR's full squad for IPL 2025:
Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer (Rs. 12.50 crore), Maheesh Theekshana (Rs. 4.4 crore), Wanindu Hasaranga (Rs. 5.25 crore), Akash Madhwal (Rs. 1.20 crore), Kumar Kartikeya (Rs. 30 lakh), Nitish Rana (Rs. 4.20 crore), Tushar Deshpande (Rs. 6.50 crore), Shubham Dubey (Rs. 80 lakh), Yudhvir Singh (Rs. 35 lakh), Fazalhaq Farooqi (Rs. 2 crore), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rs. 1.10 crore), Kwena Maphaka (Rs. 1.50 crore), Kunal Rathore (Rs. 30 lakh), Ashok Sharma (Rs. 30 lakh).
