Rajasthan Royals announcement for changes in their support staff comes while Rahul Dravid has rejoined as the head coach after a successful assignment with the Indian Team where they were crowned World Champions in T20 this June. As interestingly, Rahul will head the assert with the captain Sanju Samson whom he picked in his previous term with the IPL winning side.
Rahul Dravid, who has previously been playing and coaching for the Royal Raiders Franchise, was the one who was fan belonging the skills of Samuel Datta during the trials done back in 2013 and eventually, the royals bought the then 18-year-old samson in the IPL auction. Samson has remained a member of the royals longer than that, except for two seasons however where the team did not participate in the IPL because of a ban due to match-fixing (2016 and 2017). For these two seasons, Samson was with Delhi.
Meanwhile, Star Sports released a video of an interview of Samson in which he describes the events of how he came for the RR trials and also managed to impress Rahul Dravid.
“A few months before I came (joined RR), I think there were trials in jaipur. Sreesanth bhai brought me for those trials. I think Rahul sir was there, Paddy Upton was there, Zubin Barucha was there – former RR Team Director,” Samson remembers.
“Earlier, I had been to Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) trials as a debutant, quite young. So I was not looking forward to a lot from these (RR) trials. You never know what will happen, what kind of players they are looking for,” he added.
In 2012, Samson first debuted in the IPL by being signed to the KKR, although he did not play any matches that season.
“So I was part of two day (RR) trials. Prior to or after that, I don’t remember batting so well. It was a very special day for me,” says the 29-year-old Rajasthan based Wicketkeeper.
Samson continued explaining how Rahul, who played in the IPL last time in 2013 and was appointed as RR’s hc later suited up to him and congratulated him for his performance in the trials.
“On that very day Rahul sir said to me ‘You are definitely getting it all right. Would you like to become one of us and play for our team?’ Such encouraging words coming from Rahul sir shock me so much because he brings out the best out of every type of cricket player as he is a legend.
‚If someone like him is saying I am good enough, than I am good enough,‘ said Samson.
In 2021 samson was made rr captain. The following season he took his side to the championship match but The winners of 2008 suffered a defeat to the rookie Gujarat Titans.”
