Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan hailed Sanju Samson’s knock despite Rajasthan Royals’ 20-run loss against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Tuesday. Samson scored a fine knock of 86 runs off just 46 balls in the run-chase of 222 but his efforts went in vain as they were restricted to 201-8.
The RR captain completed his fifty off 28 balls and scored eight fours and six sixes in his blistering knock. However, Samson was dismissed in a controversial way with Shai Hope taking a tight catch at the boundary rope.
Samson timed the ball to perfection and took on the attack against the DC bowlers. But the flamboyant batter didn’t get the support from the other end as none of the other RR batters could cross the 30-run mark.
“He plays big shots in front of the wickets, whether it is long-off, long-on or midwicket, but you will also see him scoring runs behind square. He doesn’t play the lap shot but scored runs in all four directions of the ground and with proper cricketing shots,” Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports.
“Khaleel Ahmed bowled a perfect yorker, he did everything he could as a bowler, but he (Samson) sliced it for a four. What can the bowlers do? He is in that kind of form. He makes the bowlers totally weaponless. He makes the bowlers lose their morale. He is batting like that and it is enjoyable to watch,” the former India all-rounder added.
Pathan reckons Samson would have won the game for RR had if not gotten out on 86.
“He would have won the match if he hadn’t gotten out. He was batting in a zone. Neither fast bowlers nor spinners were proving effective against him. He was easily hitting sixes off the back foot. He played along the ground as well where he hit fours with timing,” he stated.
The former all-rounder lauded Samson’s technique for being consistent in IPL 2024.
“He either has a back-and-across initial movement or he comes slightly forward. He was preempting the bowlers’ lengths and what they were going to bowl, and batting incredibly well,” Pathan observed.
Samson has scored 471 runs in 11 matches at an average of 67.29 and a strike rate of 163.54 in ongoing IPL 2024. The inaugural champions will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Sunday.
