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IPL 2020: KKR vs RR: No one can, no one should try to play like MS Dhoni: Sanju Samson

IPL 2020: Sanju Samson opened up about being compared to MS Dhoni and said there can be no one like MS Dhoni.

IPL 2020: KKR vs RR: No one can, no one should try to play like MS Dhoni: Sanju Samson

Dubai, Sept 29: Sanju Samson has been in fiery form this season, guiding the Rajasthan Royals to two thrilling wins.
Samson has drawn praise from all quarters and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's comment on Twitter about the Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batsman has received a lot of backlash. Tharoor called Samson the next MS Dhoni. Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir had said that instead of striving to be the next Dhoni, the 25-year-old must try to be the Sanju Samson of Indian cricket.
Rejecting the comparisons, Samson said on Tuesday that 'no one can' and 'no one should try' to play like Dhoni.
Samson said on Tuesday, "I am sure that no one can and no one should try to play like him. It's not at all easy to play like MS Dhoni, so leave that aside. I never think of playing like MS Dhoni. He is a legend of Indian cricket, legend of the game.
"I only focus on my game, what I can do, how I can do it best and how I can win matches," the Keralite added, again like Gambhir, on the eve of his team's match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai.
Asked if he thinks he has done enough to attract the attention of the national selectors, Samson said, "I maybe, I maybe not. The only think I know is I am in good form, my only dream is to win matches for my team, any team I play. My focus is on the IPL right now."
"I am very lucky to be a part of Rajasthan Royals and some very good individuals, good human beings around me. I am a bit deep person and I keep on thinking about my future, also about my life, because everyone will die one day.
Samson had recently said that he has another 10 years of cricket left in him, a conclusion he came to after a lot of thought and an interaction with Indian captain Virat Kohli during a gym session.
"I think I can't play cricket after 10-12 years. When I was in gym with the Indian team I met Virat bhai, I keep on asking him different things. When he asked me how many years you are going to be play and I said 10, he told me that me 'then give everything to these 10 years and you can have your favourite food from Kerala after that'.
"So I became really dedicated to give my best for the next 10-12 years."
Having performed admirably well over the last few IPL but probably not as much in the domestic circuit, Samson said he has started to understand his game better. "I have understood my game, it's more of power hitting. So I have been training on my strengths on my power hitting."
He said playing most of his cricket in Kerala and Jaipur has helped him in adapting to the hot and humid conditions of the UAE better. "I am in a very good space mentally. I have worked closely with our video analyst for four to five months and that really helped me improve."
RR have just pulled off an IPL record chase and asked if his team would prefer batting second in the coming matches, he spoke about their strengths. "We have a very well-balanced team, good bowling strength, we are confident with our batting lineup, we bat deep with even someone like Shreyas Gopal batting at number nine. But lot depends on the conditions."
After their first two convincing wins, the Royals will meet the Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday, and the Knights will have to come with a strong line-up if they are to stop the Royals charge.
(Source: PTI)

Story first published: Tuesday, September 29, 2020, 19:23 [IST]
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