The inaugural champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals (RR) began the 16th edition of the cash-rich tournament in an exemplary fashion. The last season's runners-up registered a massive 72-run win against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on April 2 (Sunday). After the victory, Royals jumped to the top spot in the points table as the margin of victory bolstered their Net Run Rate (NRR).
Royals' victory was set up perfectly by the batting line-up led by captain and charismatic batter, Sanju Samson. The stylish right-handed batter's attractive knock of 55 runs from 32 balls was instrumental in RR posting a mammoth total of 203 against the Orange Army.
After the match, RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara lauded Samson's stellar show with the bat. In a video shared by the franchise on its Twitter handle, the former Sri Lankan batter can be seen appreciating Samson with all the other team members sitting and carefully listening to Sangakkara's speech.
"We had batters in that game who got probably a total that was just about par. So Sanju, unbelievable batting," Sangakkara said before RR players clapped for their skipper.
Samson was one of three RR batters, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler, to score fifties for the IPL 2022 finalists. After Buttler's 85-run partnership with opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, off just 35 balls. Jaiswal then combined with Samson for a 54-run stand.
Former England captain Eoin Morgan was also thoroughly impressed by Samson's stylish knock and was not happy with the batter being continuously ignored when it comes to the selection in Team India.
"It's hard to believe that he does not play more international cricket when he plays with ease and as well as this. The time he has and the power that he generates from shots of the backfoot like that are incredible," Morgan said on Jio Cinema.
ALSO READ:
IPL 2023 Points Table: A look at the standings after all teams complete one match in cash-rich league
IPL 2023: Sanju Samson becomes first batter to bag THIS sensational milestone against SRH
