Communication with leadership group has helped: Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson thanked the Indian team management for showing confidence in him and giving him the time and rope to return to form.

The right-handed batsman, who opened the innings in the three T20Is against Bangladesh had a string of ordinary scores running into the final T20I. He made 29 and 10 in the first T20 games. Prior to that he got two ducks in the T20Is in Sri Lanka in July.

But on Sunday, he hammered 111 off 47 balls to power India to 297/8 from where they clinched the match and wrapped the series 3-0.

“Have to thank the dressing room for backing me. I was doubtful after a couple of failures in series in Sri Lanka. But they backed me. We have committed as a group to dominate this format in each and every game so as a team we are doing it and we are very grateful for that,” said Samson after the match.

“I felt I have been timing the ball well from the past two games. Didn’t get enough scores but have been timing the ball well. I just wanted to capitalise. Came into the powerplay and wanted to have a good partnership (he added 173 with captain Suryakumar Yadav). Scoring four consecutive boundaries in the powerplay gives you a lot of confidence,” added Samson.

The 29-year-old, who hails from Kerala, talked about the tough times he had to go through due to his failures.

“Mentally you have to go through a lot, especially in this format where failure is a lot more than success. You have to look for scoring options and the risk is high also. It can get very tricky. When you have those failures, it is easier to say that okay, ‘I can go back and make my runs’ but I like to be myself and I know what I am as a person and character. I like to go out there and fail and succeed in my own way. Want to be myself, fail and succeed on my own terms. Be true to my own character.”

Samson said he was informed about his inclusion as opener three weeks prior to this series and he went and prepared for the role at the Rajasthan Royals Academy.

“Three weeks before this, right after Sri Lanka, I was very fortunate to get a message from the leadership group, from Suryakumar Yadav, Gautam [Gambhir] bhai and Abhishek Nayar. They told me three weeks ago that I will be opening. That gave me time to prepare. I went back to RR Academy. I was playing with lots and lots of new balls. That preparation, I think, has helped. Communication with leadership group has helped.”

He says that Sunday’s success has made him realise that he can play in any position with adequate preparation.

“I have understood that I can bat anywhere from 1 to 6. I have power and I have timing in my game, so it is all about working according to role assigned.”

Tags : Sanju Samson, India cricket, Bangladesh cricket, Surykumar Yadav, Hyderabad, century, IPL, Rajasthan Royals