“Great learning experience for him”: Jos Buttler lauds Sanju Samson’s role in maiden IPL season as Rajasthan Royals captain

Jos Buttler lauds Sanju Samson’s role: The tried and tested English wicket-keeper batsman spoke highly of his latest IPL captain.

Rajasthan Royals opening batsman Jos Buttler has claimed his latest IPL captain Sanju Samson to be “authentic” after playing seven matches under him in the now-postponed 14th season of the Indian Premier League.

“It is really important as a leader to be authentic, and I think Sanju [Samson] is very much that,” Buttler said in a virtual live session arranged by Rajasthan.

Undoubtedly a contender to lead Royals this season alongside his English teammate Ben Stokes, both the Englishmen played under Samson who was leading for the first time in the biggest T20 competition.

ALSO WATCH: Sanju Samson grabs remarkable catch to dismiss Shikhar Dhawan in IPL 2021

“I’ve really enjoyed playing under Sanju’s captaincy. I don’t think it changed him at all as a person. He’s quite a free spirited, very relaxed kind of guy and he tried to get that across to the team and that’s how he wanted us to play as a side,” Buttler said.

Jos Buttler lauds Sanju Samson’s role in maiden IPL season as Rajasthan Royals captain

While Royals weren’t at their best in the first half of the league stage on the back of three victories and four losses in seven matches, Buttler opined that Samson was “growing into the role” as the tournament progressed.

“It was a great learning experience for him. And I think, as the tournament was going along, at the halfway stage, he was really growing into the role, looking to put together some better, more consistent performances towards the end of the season as a side,” Buttler further said.

After beating Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad by 6 wickets and 55 runs respectively, RR had jumped to the fifth position and looked set to peak just before the tournament was brought to a halt.

India is a special country going through a very difficult time. Thank you for welcoming me and my family like you always do. Please stay safe and look after yourselves 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/DnNdFKkuO2

— Jos Buttler (@josbuttler) May 5, 2021

Leading from the front with the bat in hand, Samson was Royals’ top-scorer this season with his 277 runs in seven innings coming at an average and strike rate of 46.16 and 145.78 respectively including a century against Punjab Kings. Buttler, on the other hand, was just behind Samson as far as Rajasthan’s batsmen are concerned with his 254 runs coming at 36.28 and 153.01 including a century against SRH.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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