Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals swashbuckler, has revealed that he wanted to cheer for the legendary MS Dhoni as he came out to bat in an empty stadium during last week’s fixture in Sharjah.
The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League [IPL] is being played without the presence of a crowd as part of Covid-19 related precautions.
And, while the BCCI and host broadcasters have done their bit by playing pre-recorded noise to ensure that the television audience does not feel that the game is being played behind closed doors, players have certainly felt that.
“One thing I noticed was when Mahi bhai came in, any matches I have played against him, I think whenever they say the ‘next batsman is Mahendra Singh Dhoni’, I think you don’t hear anything else, you just listen to the crowd and that amazing crowd noise they make for him,” Sanju Samson said.
I think this time when they announced the name that was really standout for me. No one was cheering, no one was there to cheer him up. Yeah, I wish I could (whether he wanted to clap), ” Sanju Samson told BBC Test Match Special.
Sanju Samson, meanwhile, has been in smashing form this IPL. The talented right-hander has scored back-to-back match-winning half-centuries in the tournament, leading to people comparing with the legendary MS Dhoni. Samson, however, has shrugged off all those comparisons, adding that it is impossible to emulate Dhoni’s style and that he wants to forge his own identity.
Also Read- It Is Not At All Easy To Play Like MS Dhoni: Sanju Samson Shrugs Off Comparisons With MS Dhoni