IPL 2023: 'Sanju Samson is like a young MS Dhoni' - Graeme Swann praises Rajasthan Royals captain

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IPL 2023: Former England cricketer Graeme Swann has reckoned that Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson is like "a young MS Dhoni". The huge compliment from Swann comes as Samson continues to lead RR impressively in the IPL 2023.

Samson is currently the third-highest run-scorer for Rajasthan after Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler. In the 11 matches so far, the wicketkeeper-batter has scored 308 runs at a strike rate of 154.77. He blasted 66 runs off just 38 balls in the last over against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Swann stated that unlike a few years ago, Samson is cooler, calmer and most importantly consistent with the bat. He added that the 28-year-old has also started to read the game nicely.

"What I love about Sanju is, like I said, in the five or six years that I have been covering the IPL, he has become more and more of a leader and a consistent senior player that his talent beckoned and destined him to be.

Let’s face it: four or five years ago, everyone knew how good he was, but he would easily go six to seven games doing nothing and then have a brilliant knock. I think now he’s almost Mr. Dependable for Rajasthan.

"And he’s very calm; he’s very assured; he is like a young MS Dhoni; I think with his captaincy. He doesn’t lose his calm, he doesn’t lose his cool, and he knows what is going on and reads the game well," Swann, who is a part of a galaxy of superstars on JioCinema’s Expert panel, said.

The Dhoni-like composure in Samson was on display during Rajasthan's last match against Hyderabad. Five runs were needed off the last ball when RR pacer Sandeep Sharma picked a wicket on a no-ball. Now with four required off one ball, Abdul Samad smashed a six to hand RR a 4-wicket defeat.

Despite the shocking defeat, Samson stayed cool as a cucumber and said, "You can never, never, never feel like you have won the game."

On being asked about how he felt after Sandeep's no-ball, he said, "Nothing much, it's a no-ball, just have to bowl it again as simple as that. You don't think about it too much." The mature statement from Samson definitely reminded fans of Dhoni.