Former England spinner Swann calls Sanju Samson younger version of Dhoni

Former England spinner Graeme Swann opined that Sanju Samson, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has a calm demeanour and excellent game-reading abilities, which give the impression of him being a younger version of the legendary Indian cricketer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Samson has scored 308 runs in 11 matches, with a strike rate of 154.77, including an unbeaten 66, and has effectively led his team to keep them in contention for a playoff spot in the IPL.

“What I love about Sanju is, he has become more and more of a leader and a consistent senior player that his talent beckoned and destined him to be,” said Swann, who is part of JioCinema’s Expert panel, in a release.

“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,” he added.

Rajasthan Royals had a great start to the season but then lost three matches on the trot to currently occupy the fifth spot.

RR will face Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.

PTI Inputs