Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has commended Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain and Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson's leadership qualities ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Ashwin and Samson have played for RR together since 2022.
RR will kick off their IPL 2024 against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on March 24. Samson, who was named the captain of RR in IPL 2021, has led the side for the last three seasons. Under his leadership, the franchise reached the finals in 2022 but lost to the Gujarat Titans (GT).
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Ashwin lauds Samson's leadership skills
While talking to Star Sports, Ashwin heavily praised Samson, calling his leadership qualities phenomenal.
“On the field, I try and give him inputs as I see how the game is panning out. However, that relationship off the field doesn’t come on the field. It’s generally that younger brother, elder brother sort of a relationship off it. On the field, we are able to switch off,” said Ashwin.
“I do what he wants and give my inputs and then he takes what he wants and gets on with it. I find Sanju as a young captain, he is able to differentiate, and demarcate both which is phenomenal,” Ashwin added.
Ashwin reveals Samson's surprising off-field humour
He also added that Samson is really funny off the field, stating that he is a completely different person on and off the field.
“Sanju is extremely funny off the field. I am not sure a lot of people understand that or probably know that. It’s a problem of perfection a lot of people battle how you see someone on the ground and how they are off it, it’s completely different,” Ashwin added.
The RR won the first-ever IPL in 2008, and Samson would want to make it two trophies for the Rajasthan-based franchise with their interesting mix of young talents and experienced players.
RR Squad for IPL 2024
Sanju Samson (c), Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Donovan Ferreira, Kunal Rathore, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Sen, Navdeep Saini, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, Avesh Khan, Rovman Powell, Shubham Dubey, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Abid Mushtaq, Nandre Burger.
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