Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson

There are few youngsters who have created enough buzz with their batting; but only handful of them have made a lasting impression. Sanju Viswanath Samson with his exploits for Rajasthan Royals is one such name. Though we haven’t seem him much in Indian Domestic Whites, but from little from what we have seen in the Royal blue, rest is assured that he is a good prospect. Being a wicket keeper is just added advantage.

Sanju came on to the news this IPL when he played some mind-blowing innings for Royals; with his fearless hitting combined with calm and yet composed batting he stole many a hearts. Royals are a team that doesn’t have the start powers, but it relies on individuals stepping up and emerging as the stars. In the recently concluded Champions League Sanju played a big hand, getting 3 fifties and an important 60 of 30 in the finals. Though Royals ended up on the losing side, Sanju ended up impressing many.

With Rahane going all guns blazing at the top and Hodge-Binny going bonkers at the bottom, Sanju has been the perfect binding force for Royals, quick to rotate strike and attack when the situations demanded. We have seen a fellow U-19 top order batsman who just have had one gear, be it Chand or Mandeep, Sanju has many gears.

One his features of his batting is his no-nonsense approach, neither does have the muscles to take the leather of the ball, nor does he play the modern-day cheeky lap shot or scoop. But his shots are more of get to the pitch of the delivery, and ball hitting the sweet spot. In the finals against Harbhajan he stepped out the very first ball he faced of him and hit straight over his head for a six. And just as to prove that he can play of International bowlers he tore apart Coulter-Niles in the 4th over. He initially stepped out and made the adjustment for the short ball and flat batted it over long on. The next ball was pitched up and he drove it past cover. Now that is called presence of mind and out thinking the bowler. This pull-drive was last associated with Sachin.

Though one knows that T20 games played in India aren’t the right platform to test someone class and endurance, but with little of what we have seen from this kid one can be assured that his future looks prosperous.