‘He is one of the best T20 players’: Sangakkara hails Indian cricketer before IPL 2022

Legendary Sri Lanka cricketer Kumar Sangakkara hailed Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson as “one of the best T20 players” before adding that retaining him for IPL 2022 was a no brainer for Rajasthan Royals (RR).

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Samson will lead RR for the second season in a row. He made his debut with the team in 2013. Over the seven years he has developed himself as a dependable cricketer. In the last two seasons, he has specially been impressive with the bat. Riding on his IPL performance, Samson also made a comeback to the Indian squad for the recent home T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Sangakkara, who is the Director of Cricket and head coach of Rajsthan Royals, is impressed with Samson’s ability to score runs quickly. He hailed the Indian as a match-winner.

“Irrespective of him being the captain or the future of RR, he is one of the best T20 players,” the head coach said.

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“He is a magnificent player, destructive, match-winner, has every ability that you want in a batter. He was captain before I took over last season. I have come to know him really well and admire him. He’s got such a passion for RR. He started here, he values that. He is a captain who is willing to admit that he doesn’t know everything as yet and he is going to grow into it. He’s got natural leadership qualities. He’s going to get better and better.”

Last season, Samson scored 484 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of 40.33, and he maintained a strike rate of 136.72. He also had hit a hundred and two half centuries.

In 2020, he scored 375 runs in as many games at a strike rate of 158.89 with three half-centuries.

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“He’s a simple guy, a man of few words, very grounded. He’s absolutely suited for this job and it’s made working with him so much easier and fun. He’s got a sense of humour as well, and it comes out once in a while. He’s got a lot of pride, he wants to win. All I can do is give him the best support to be able to be that leader he knows he can be,” Sangakkara added.