Sanju Samson’s Explosive 82 Off 52 Balls Sparks Debate on ‘Most Underrated Player’ Tag

Sanju Samson once again showcased his prowess in the IPL, igniting Rajasthan Royals’ season opener with an explosive unbeaten knock of 82 against Lucknow Super Giants. The Royals’ skipper blazed through his innings, smashing six towering sixes and three fours in his 52-ball innings. Samson’s aggressive yet composed batting not only provided impetus but also stability to his team after they faced early setbacks in the Powerplay.

Partnering with Riyan Parag, who contributed a crucial 43 off 29 balls with one four and three sixes, Samson orchestrated a pivotal 93-run partnership for the third wicket, bolstering Rajasthan’s batting lineup. While Samson displayed his trademark strokeplay with finesse, Parag adopted a more calculated approach, capitalizing on every opportunity that came his way.

Sanju Samson in the first match of IPL since 2020:

2020: 74(32)
2021: 119(63)
2022: 55(27)
2023: 55(32)
2024: 82*(52)

The Captain, leading by example. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/BRcWNbCjoa

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 24, 2024

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Parag, initially cautious, began to assert himself in the ninth over, dispatching Yash Thakur for a towering six over mid-on, while Samson added two more sixes to collect 21 runs from the over. Despite a scare when Parag mistimed a shot off Ravi Bishnoi, he was dropped by Mohsin Khan.

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However, Parag’s innings came to an end in the 15th over when he top-edged a pull shot off Naveen-ul-Haq to substitute fielder Deepak Hooda at deep square leg. Despite Shimron Hetmyer’s brief innings of 5 runs, and Dhruv Jurel’s quickfire 20 off 12 balls towards the end, Rajasthan’s innings faced a setback when Krunal Pandya collided with Samson while attempting to take a catch offered by Parag.

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Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal displayed glimpses of aggression, hitting a few attractive boundaries before falling prey to Naveen-ul-Haq’s deceptive delivery. Jos Buttler’s early dismissal in the second over further compounded Rajasthan’s woes. Buttler’s departure was marked by a brilliant diving catch by KL Rahul, who stood behind the wickets despite the presence of other wicketkeepers in the squad.

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Overall, Rajasthan Royals’ innings was a blend of aggressive strokeplay from Samson, calculated contributions from Parag, and brief cameos from other batsmen. Despite initial setbacks, their batting lineup showcased resilience and promise for the matches ahead.