I Am So Proud And Happy To Captain The Team Which I Have Grown Up With: Sanju Samson Reacts On Being Appointed As Rajasthan Royals Skipper

India and Kerala swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has expressed his delight after being appointed as the skipper of Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 14th season of the Indian Premier League [IPL]

Ahead of the mini-IPL auction, Rajasthan Royals released their former skipper Steve Smith following a dismal campaign in the 2020 season.

After having started the 13th season with consecutive victories, the wheels came off for the inaugural IPL champions as they eventually finished with the wooden spoon.

Samson, in a video posted by Rajasthan Royals, said that he is very proud of the fact that he will be leading a franchise, which he considers as his family.

“I am so proud and happy to captain the team which I have grown up with, the team which is more than a family to me. Very happy and excited for the season ahead,” Sanju Samson said in a video uploaded by the Royals.

"A team more than a family." ?

Sanju Samson as Royals skipper, for the first time ever. ?️?#HallaBol | #RoyalsFamily | @IamSanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/qOXPYIiHb0

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) January 25, 2021

Sanju Samson has impinged himself as one of the bedrock of the Rajasthan Royals unit since making his debut for the franchise back in the 2013 season.

The talented swashbuckler has aggregated 1907 runs at a strike-rate of 136.21 in 79 IPL games for the Royals. However, he would be hoping to bring some consistency in his performances in the upcoming season.

Samson kickstarted his IPL 2020 campaign with a bang as he smoked back-to-back whirlwind half-centuries against Chennai Super Kings [74 off 32 balls] and Kings XI Punjab [85 off 42 balls] in Sharjah.

However, his slump in form mirrored Rajasthan Royals dwindling fortunes as he managed a mere 216 runs in the next 12 innings at an average of 18.

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