Got congratulatory messages from Mahi bhai after becoming RR captain: Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson might be playing in the IPL since 2013 but the upcoming season will be a new experience for him. In IPL 2021, Samson will be taking the field as a captain for the very first time in his career. In January, the Royals replaced Steve Smith with Samson as their captain after the disastrous outing in IPL 2020.

The Royals struggled for consistency throughout the season and eventually finished the tournament at the bottom of the points table. Samson, however, had a decent outing. The right-handed batsman, who has been playing for the franchise since 2013, finished IPL 2020 as Royals’ top run-scorer with 375 runs in 14 innings at an impressive strike rate of 158.

Samson has performed consistently for the Royals and the team would be hoping that their fortunes change under their new skipper. Samson might be new to leading a team in the IPL but he has captaincy experience in the domestic circuit. The Kerala star would be looking to end the Royals’ long wait for their second IPL title. The Royals have not won the trophy since winning the inaugural edition in 2008.

Congratulatory messages from Indian stars

Sanju Samson recently opened up about the time when he received the news of getting Royals’ captaincy. In an interview with Hindustan Times, the star batsman revealed that he knew he was going to be named the new Royals captain a while before it was made public. He couldn’t resist sharing the news with his close circle—his parents and wife Charu as he said: “It was tough keeping it to myself.”

After the news was made public, Samson received congratulatory messages from some of India’s biggest names in cricket – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. Samson also said that becoming the captain of the team he is playing for since 2013 was a proud moment for him.

“I got some nice congratulatory messages from Virat bhai, Rohit bhai and Mahi bhai,” revealed the 26-year old.

“The Royals have a quality bunch of great players and amazing support staff backing them. I’ve known most of them for years; they are like family. So, I’m in a comfortable space with the people I have around me. I have been part of the Royals from my teen days in 2013. Playing for one team for this long to now becoming captain, it’s a proud moment,”  he added.

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