Sanju Samson the best wicket-keeper batsman in India, says Gautam Gambhir

Rajasthan Royals’ skipper Ajinkya Rahane was struggling to middle the ball at the start of the innings, and the Royals were stuck at a score of 75 after ten overs. Chances of a score exceeding 180 looked very bleak, but Rahane’s flourish of 70 thereafter, and Sanju Samson’s sublime unbeaten century took the team’s score to 198, with as many as 76 runs coming from the last five overs.

The 24 year old’s second century in the Indian Premier League made everyone, including former India opener Gautam Gambhir and skipper Ajinkya Rahane, among others, take not of him.

“Sanju’s been fantastic for us. We all know how talented he is. I’m sure he’s also hurt but he’ll go miles. Consistency is the key for him,” said Rahane, reported PTI.

Sunrisers Hyderabad opener David Warner took on the Royals’ bowling attack from the first delivery of the match, thereby his team were at a total of 69 after the first powerplay. The southpaw went on to stitch a 100 run opening partnership with Jonny Bairstow before falling for 69 off 37 deliveries. Very soon, the wicket-keeper batsman was also dismissed for 45, courtesy an excellent catch from Dhawal Kulkarni, the same man who had dropped him in the previous over.

Vijay Shankar was the next man to carry on the onslaught by smashing 35 off 15 balls. The Orange Army lost three wickets for four runs in the space of one over which put their chase in a jeopardy. But mystery spinner Rashid Khan handed his team the win, this time with the bat, by hitting a six and a four off Jofra Archer in the last but one over.

“They didn’t lose momentum throughout. When he (Warner) got out, Vijay Shankar batted well too. I think first of all, we thought 190 plus was very good score. The wicket was stopping a bit and we were aiming to get 150 plus. But credit to Sunrisers for the momentum they got in the powerplay. When someone like Warner bats like that, it’s very less margins for the bowler,” Rahane added.

Man of the Match Rashid Khan had only given 24 runs in his four overs, and even scalped the all important wicket of Jos Buttler for five. But for a change, it was the 20 year old’s batting which grabbed people’s attention today. 

“I just try my best to be positive in every game, in every department. My coaches have given me a lot of confidence in the nets that I’m capable of hitting it anywhere,” Khan said.

“I think that was the plan (to Buttler) as I’ve got him early previously. So I just bowled in good areas and saw how it goes. I just tried my best to mix up my five leg-spinners. I realised it wasn’t a wicket where there will be too much turn. Yes, I have five different leg-spins, with different actions and grip,” expressed the number one ranked T20I bowler.

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