“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.

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“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.

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.