Smriti Mandana went want to say that she ‘has become a huge fan’ of Sanju Samson in her latest interview with India Today. She also said that Samson is the reason behind her support towards Rajasthan Royals. Sanju Samson is leaving up to the hype he created a few years back as ‘the emerging player’ of IPL. The next big talent in Indian cricket is in the form of his life. Samson has scored two back to back fifties in this IPL.
First time in his IPL career, He has hit 50+ scores in consecutive innings. Those innings were simply outstanding and incredible to watch. In his first match for RR, he scored 74 runs in just 32 deliveries, including nine sixes. Samson’s fine performance carried on in the second match. He scored 85 runs with the help of 42 balls, including 7 sixes. Those two defining innings caught everybody’s attention and even though he went out quickly against KKR yesterday, it didn’t overshadow his contribution.
How Sanju Samson Is Winning Hearts?
The Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman has also smacked 16 sixes in the tournament, the most by a batsman this year. Added by his overall contribution, Samson is a big name in IPL 2020. His fabulous return to the tournament has caught the eye of other top athletes in the sport in the nation. Among them is Indian Women Cricketer Smriti Mandhana. She is clearly impressed with what she has seen from Sanju Samson so far.
“The way young guys are batting is very inspirational to see. I think Sanju Samson, the way he is batting I have just become a huge fan of him. I have started supporting RR because of him. The way he is batting is crazy, next-level batting. I am thinking to learn from everyone who is batting and bowling well,” Smriti Mandhana told India Today.
Smriti revealed that Samson’s batting along with his team-mate’s delightful performances is impressing her now and then. Rajasthan Royal led by Steve Smith has now become a franchise that the lady cricketer is now supporting.
What Smriti Mandhana went on to added?
“I am watching all the matches. I am quite biased with all the players and I have not got one team to support. Am not being diplomatic, I actually do not have one team to support. I am supporting Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni.”
Smriti herself is a talented cricketer. She earned the name of the best Women’s International Cricketer’ in 2018 by the BCCI. She is an integral member of the Indian women’s national cricket team. The left-handed batsmen have also scored over 2000 runs in ODI and over 1700 runs in T20I formats. So, talent recognizes talent.
For Samson and RR, they need to overturn their defeat against KKR. They lost by 38 runs in that game chasing a 175 runs target. Mediocre bowling in the opening innings and then lose with their batting led RR’s downfall in the game. Tom Curran’s 54 not out batting performance was only the bright spark in the game. The Rajasthan based franchise is hoping to get back to winning ways quickly in their next game against RCB on Saturday.