IPL 2024

Indian T20 League debutant shares insights on Sanju Samson and Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of new season

Sanju Samson’s role as the Rajasthan franchise’s captain is extremely simple and very complex. Players with extensive leadership experience, like Joe Root, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jos Buttler, are on his roster. He can always rely on them for advice. On the other hand, he must also put himself in a position to lead these elite cricketers. Samson, in Root’s opinion, has already produced that. The England batsman, who will make his Indian T20 League debut in 2023, called his captain a promising young player.

“Last year was an exceptional year for the franchise, and I’ve always enjoyed watching Sanju (Samson) play. I think he’s a hell of a talent and seems to keep growing every year as a player and as a leader,” Root said.

Root spoke of the homely environment in the Rajasthan camp. “It’s a real family environment. Everyone seems to want to create that feel around things that it’s more than just performances on the field. It’s been a very warm welcome from the very first call. They said they were delighted to get me in the auction, and I’m really looking forward to catching up further down the line.

Joe Root picks Riyan Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin as the players he’s excited about

“I’ve been here for a couple of days and feel very much a part of things already. I think it’s a really nice environment to play cricket and I’m looking forward to it. I am being extremely well looked after, and eventually, that helps me excel on the field,” he added.

England’s former Test captain is looking forward to the upcoming Indian T20 League season. “I’m really excited; it’s an experience that you can’t replicate anywhere else in the world. I’ve never experienced it before, so it’s all going to be very new to me, which, for an experienced player that’s played a lot of international cricket, is really exciting.”

“I’ve heard a lot of things. And I’m really looking forward to living it now. It’s gonna be a very special year with the fact that the Rajasthan players are coming back to Jaipur and connecting with the fans and the city again. We’re looking forward to embracing that atmosphere and being a part of it,” said the right-hander.

Speaking of a player who he considers an exciting prospect, Root quoted: “Riyan Parag. He played some important innings last year at a very young age, but I think he is quite mature as a player. I’m looking forward to watching and learning from these guys and seeing how they go about practice and how they think about the game.

“Ashwin is another name I’m really excited about. He’s definitely a match-winner, and it’s great to get the opportunity to work with these guys up close, watch them go about things, learn from them and hopefully spend some treasured memories with them as well,” added Root.