No One Can And No One Should Try to Play Like Dhoni: Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson's ability to play big shots effortlessly led the team to thrilling wins against Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab in close matches. Kerala Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called him the 'next Dhoni'.
Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson, who is in great rhythm in the current edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), said on Tuesday that no one can play like former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He said that no one should try to play like Dhoni.
Samson’s ability to play big shots effortlessly led the team to thrilling wins against Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab in close matches. The Rajasthan Royals succeeded in chasing a record target against the Punjab team. After his explosive innings, Kerala Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called him the ‘Next Dhoni’.
25-year-old Samson, however, dismissed the comparison saying, “I am sure that no one can and no one should try to play like him. It’s not at all easy to play like MS Dhoni, so leave that aside. I never think of playing like MS Dhoni. He is a legend of Indian cricket, the legend of the game.”
Samson said. “I only focus on my game, what I can do, how I can do it best and how I can win matches…”
Former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir also agreed with this Kerala based batsman. Gambhir said that this 25-year-old player should focus on becoming Sanju Samson of Indian cricket instead of becoming the next Dhoni.
Samson strengthened his claim for a place in the Indian team by playing 74 and 85 runs. On asking if he thought he had done enough to get the attention of the national selectors, Samson replied,
“Maybe yes, maybe no.”
“I am very lucky to be a part of Rajasthan Royals and some very good individuals, good human beings around me. I am a bit deep person and I keep on thinking about my future, also about my life, because everyone will die one day. I think I can’t play cricket after 10-12 years.
“When I was in the gym with the Indian team I met Virat bhai, I keep on asking him different things. When he asked me how many years you are going to play and I said 10, he told me that me ‘then give everything to these 10 years and you can have your favourite food from Kerala after that’. So I became really dedicated to giving my best for the next 10-12 years,” Samson revealed.
The 25-year-old accepted that playing in Jaipur and Kerala helped him in adapting the humid conditions in the UAE.
“I am in a very good space mentally. I have worked closely with our video analyst for four to five months and that really helped me improve.”
“We have a very well-balanced team, good bowling strength, we are confident with our batting lineup, we bat deep with even someone like Shreyas Gopal batting at number nine. But a lot depends on the conditions…,” Sanju said.