Sanju Samson : Blessed to be working with Rahul Dravid

Samson played the starring role in Delhi's first win of the current season with a well made 102 off just 63. The 22-year-old has been working with the former Indian skipper in the India A team and now is a part of the same team that Dravid mentors in the IPL.

"I am very happy to play this knock and very happy that the team won the match," Samson said after the game, reported PTI.

"I am blessed to be a part of this team, working with Rahul sir (team mentor) and the rest of the support staff. I am in a very good space of mind and the people here have always backed me and encouraged me.

"I am very keen to finish innings and make my team win matches. I am learning about it and hopefully, I will get better in the coming years."

After bringing up his century, with a big six no less, Samson was dismissed off the very next ball as Pune tried to launch a fightback. However, in came Chris Morris who hammered 38 off just nine balls to take Delhi past 200 for the first time since 2012.

"Morris hit some big ones and Rishabh Pant also batted well. We played a very good match. I enjoyed my fielding and batting today," the 22-year-old added.

Delhi started their campaign against RCB in Bangalore and looked to be headed for a win on the back of Rishabh Pant's heroic innings but eventually fell short by 15 runs, scoring just 3 in the last over. Delhi skipper Zaheer Khan said that he was relieved that the team was able to get their first points on the board against Pune.

"We needed that. This team has tremendous potential, we just need to back ourselves. We have some amazing talent, you see Samson batting like that and Morris going at it in the end. It's just about focusing on our processes," Khan said.

"We have guys like Rabada and Shami and Jayant who has a Test hundred sitting out. It's good to look at the bench and see that we have the firepower."

Even though it was Samson and Morris' innings that hogged the limelight, Khan and co. quietly went about their business as they knocked Pune out for a miserly 108. Khan, who was struggling to regain his fitness before the IPL, was particularly impressive, finishing the day with figures of 3/20.

"I think I have strong muscle memory. Those 92 Test matches have helped me find the right length. I am lucky to have the physios guiding me the right way and I am enjoying myself," he added.

"We are a young side and we need to show that on the field, the energy needs to be visible. I try to push them a bit, but I think it comes naturally to them.

"We did a lot of things right in the first game. A win changes the atmosphere. It creates self-belief, and from that point of view, this is important."