Sandeep Sharma lauds Sanju Samson’s leadership at Rajasthan Royals, says he challenged me to do something I had never done

Rajasthan Royals’ medium pacer Sandeep Sharma has showered praise on Sanju Samson for his captaincy with the inaugural champions. Sharma said Samson challenged him to do something which he had never done, which was the death bowling role.

Sandeep is known to swing the new ball, was asked to bowl in the death overs by Samson. He has scalped 146 wickets in 136 IPL matches at an average of 20.83 and an economy rate of 8.03.

The Punjab seamer picked nine wickets in 10 IPL 2025 matches at an average of 40.11 and an economy rate of 9.89.

“I think Sanju Samson, he backed me the most. He actually challenged me to do something that I had never done. And that is the quality of good captains, who see things in you which even you don’t. He has done that. He has been really great to me,” Sandeep said in an interview with CricTracker.

“And as a captain for RR, the team has seen so much success (under him). I think last five years, they have seen three to four good (seasons). So he has been a very good captain, and at the same time, a great leader. He understands everyone, anyone who’s playing under him, he takes that effort to understand that personality. And then according to that, assigning those roles are very important,” he added.

On the other hand, Sandeep also squashed any trade rumours of Sanju Samson. It has been reported that the RR captain wants to part ways with the franchise.

He added, “I don’t think so. They are rumours only. I think all these things go in the media one by one and after that it starts circulating. And if you ask me personally, I have not been the part of that conversation. Whatever is happening, I don’t know. But I think personally, they are only rumours.”

Samson is part of India’s team for the Asia Cup. The right-hander has been in fine form in the ongoing Kerala Cricket League as he has scored 368 runs in five innings at an average of 73.60 and a strike rate of 186.80 while leading Kochi Blue Tigers.