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SPORTS MARCH 21, 2025 | The Indian Eye 36

IPL 2025

Samson speaks of youngest star Vaibhav and

icon Dhoni as he looks forward to new season

Rajasthan will begin its IPL campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad

on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium

OUR BUREAU
Jaipur
ajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Sam-
son has hailed Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the
Ryoungest signing in the history of the Indian
Premier League (IPL) at the age of 13, hailing his
six-hitting ability and saying that the batter looks
ready to “land a few punches”.
During the IPL mega-auction last year, one of
the biggest surprises that emerged was Suryavanshi
becoming a Royal for Rs 1.1 crore. Born on March
27, 2011, in Bihar, Vaibhav is the youngest player
on the list. He made his first-class debut for Bihar
in January 2024 at just 12 years and 284 days old.
Last year, he was part of India U19’s match against
Australia in Chennai, where he smashed a 58-ball
century.
Speaking to JioHotstar as a part of the ‘Super-
Star’ programme, Samson said that young players
today do not lack confidence and understand the
brand of Indian cricket that needs to be played.
“For me, rather than giving advice, I prefer observ-
ing first--how a youngster wants to play his cricket,
what he likes, and what kind of support he needs
from me. Then, I work my way around that. Vai-
bhav looks very confident; he was hitting sixes out
of the ground at the academy. People were already Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson (ANI)
talking about his power-hitting. What else can you
ask for? It is all about understanding his strengths, a blessed feeling--to go from idolizing him to now year. He is Rajasthan’s third-highest run-getter,
backing him, and being there for him like an elder sitting with him for shoots and events. I feel like I’m with a whopping 3098 runs in 83 matches at a stel-
brother,” he added. living my dream,” Samson said while speaking on lar average of 41.84.
Ahead of the Indian Premier League 2025, JioHotstar as a part of the ‘SuperStar’ programme. The Royals decided to retain six players for
Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson de- Since his retirement from international cricket the upcoming edition of the cash-rich league, but
scribed how much he values spending time with in 2020, Dhoni has only appeared in the IPL. In the Buttler wasn’t a name that popped up on that list.
former India and Chennai Super Kings skipper MS 2024 season, he scored 161 runs at a strike rate of He came up for auction and was acquired by the
Dhoni. Dhoni will be playing in the 2025 IPL sea- 220 and an average of 53.66 after 11 innings, stay- Gujarat Titans for a hefty sum of Rs 15.75 crore.
son for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), chasing his ing unbeaten eight times and fulfilling the role of a “IPL gives you the opportunity to lead a team
sixth title. Under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaik- finisher for the five-time champions. and play at the highest level, but it also allows you to
wad. CSK will start off their campaign against five- Dhoni is the sixth-highest run-getter in IPL build close friendships. Jos Buttler is one of my clos-
time champions and arch-rivals Mumbai Indians history, with 5.243 runs in 264 matches and 229 in- est friends. We played together for seven years, form-
(MI) at their home ground of Chepauk. nings at an average of 39.12, a strike rate of 137.53 ing a long batting partnership,” Samson told Jiostar.
“Like every young Indian cricketer, I always and 24 fifties. His best score is 84*. Other than Buttler’s departure has affected Samson, who
wanted to be around MS Dhoni. Every time we CSK, he also played for Rising Pune Supergiant considers the English star his “elder brother.”
played against CSK, I wanted to sit and talk to him, (RPG), a now-defunct franchise, from 2016-17. During England’s white-ball tour of India, Samson
ask him how he does things. It was a dream for me. Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson also revealed he had a conversation with the former
I remember playing a match against CSK in Shar- reflected on “one of the most challenging things” English skipper over dinner and told him that he
jah, where I finally performed well, scored around for him, which turns out to be letting go of explo- was still not over Buttler not being a part of the RR
70-80 runs, won the game, and became the Man of sive opener Jos Buttler ahead of the Indian Pre- franchise anymore.
the Match. After that, I met Mahi bhai, and since mier League (IPL) 2025. Buttler joined the Royals Rajasthan will begin its IPL campaign against
then, our relationship has grown. Even now, I meet in 2018 and left in 2024 after the franchise decided Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the Rajiv
him often. Just yesterday, I met him again. It’s truly against retaining him before the mega-auction last Gandhi International Stadium.

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