I'm different from Rahul Dravid or MS Dhoni or anyone else: RR skipper Sanju Samson

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson led his side in one their finest IPL outings in recent years as the team went on to play the finals against the Gujarat Titans. Samson could not play big knocks this time, but his contributions with the bat at the No. 3 and No. 4 spot were significant as he scored 458 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 147.

More than his batting, his captaincy skills stunned everyone as Samson, who was given charge of leading the team last year, came very close to lifting the cup for his side. RR last won the championship in the IPL’s inception year 2008, but have not been able to repeat the heroics again.

His ability to lead a side successfully was evident, looking at the way he managed the pressure this time with sheer calm and composure. While speaking to Malayalam film director Basil Joseph last year, Samson had stated that while he admires Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni‘s captaincy abilities but does not wish to mimic them.

“I am different from Dravid or Dhoni, or anyone else. So, I try to be as natural as I am. Primarily, I try to assess the mood of the team. Often, they are all pumped up and so needn’t tell them that you should try your best. It’s sometimes the stupidest thing you would tell because everyone wants to perform to the best of their skills,” he was quoted by Indian Express after being appointed as the Royals’ skipper last year.

Rahul Dravid inspired us to produce our best: Samson

Samson has also worked with Rahul Dravid closely during his stint with the India A side. He derived a lot of inspiration from Dravid and had said that the former cricketer also “motivated” the youngsters to give their best on the field.

“His speeches were profound. He often spoke of the higher purpose of life. His words had a hypnotic power to hold our attention for a long time. But as much as his speeches, he was so caring and understanding. He loved us, and thus inspired us to produce our best. That’s the atmosphere we are trying to create in Rajasthan,” Samson had said.