Ashwin: ‘With Sanju Samson, if you ask him, he’ll say he’s been playing very selfishly this year’

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson is having his best Indian Premier League season statistically in 2024 with the bat. The Royals batter churned out 521 runs at an average of 52.10 striking at 155.52 which has been by far his best season in terms of run-scoring (previous best of 484 runs in 2021) and strike rate (previous best of 253.39 in 2023).

However, the team’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed that Samson believes he has been playing selfishly in the ongoing season. With “Sanju, if you ask him, he’ll say he’s been playing very selfishly this year, but he’s striking at 165 (155.52),” Ashwin would tell on Star Sports after RR’s Eliminator win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Ashwin though would back his captain. “That’s exactly what we needed from Sanju Samson this year,” the veteran said. I’m so happy for him, and I’m thrilled that he’s made it to the Indian World Cup side. So it’s a great group to be around, but they can make you pull your hair apart many times.

Parag needs to finish games

Riyan Parag’s failures and criticism on social media and pundits have been well-documented. However, the Assam player finally brought his domestic form to Rajasthan Royals and has had a stellar season batting at four, becoming a key part of RR’s success this year. However, Ashwin would give his opinion that Parag should also close out the games for the side.

“My expectations out of Riyan Parag are high. And I would say he misses out on closing games down, and that is something that I always tell Riyan and Yashasvi because they are top-class players, and now we are seeing the silver lining, the stuff they are made of. That’s why I’m so excited about this group of players.” Ashwin would say.

Earlier in the season during a game against Sunrisers Hyderabad chasing 202 runs RR lost Jos Buttler and Samson early however, Jaiswal and Parag stitched on a mammoth partnership but both fell at crucial junctures of the game. RR eventually kept losing their way and lost the game by one run after which their losing streak began which was overturned last evening.

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