Sanju Samson Reckons He Does Not Think Of His 'Good Friend' Rishabh Pant As His Competitor

Sanju Samson has had a roller coaster ride in his international career thus far. The Kerala and Rajasthan Royals swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman made his debut for the Indian cricket team against Zimbabwe in 2015.

Post that Samson once again went out of national favor and it would take a record-breaking whirlwind double-hundred in the 2019 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, for him to force his way back into the squad.

Sanju Samson was added in the squad for the home T20I series against Bangladesh but all he did was sit on the bench and watch Rishabh Pant struggle both in front and behind the wicket. Sanju would sit out of the next series against the West Indies as well before finally getting a chance against Sri Lanka and then on the succeeding tour of New Zealand.

The duo might be fighting for the same spot in the playing XI but Samson does not see or thinks of Rishabh Pant as his competitor.

“I think it all depends on the team combination. I never thought about all these lines (competition with Rishabh Pant). As a cricketer when you’re competing or when you’re trying to get into a sport, if you have an eye on other players – I don’t think that’s the way to play your cricket,” Sanju Samson told Times of India.

‘We are really good friends” Sanju Samson on Rishabh Pant

Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant have played for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and the Kerala batsman went on to reminisce about their epic partnership against Gujarat Lions during the 2017 edition.

“Rishabh and I started playing for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL and we spent a lot of time together. We are really good friends. He is a talented player. We really enjoyed playing together. I’ve played a lot of innings with him. I remember one match we played for Delhi Daredevils against the Gujarat Lions. We hammered sixes all over the park and chased down 200 plus. I still relish that partnership with Pant,” Samson reminisced.

Sanju Samson added that he hopes to bat with Pant in Team India as they can dominate the bowlers at will.

“Whenever people talk to me about my competition with Pant, I like to think about me and him playing together. Not just play, we also have a lot of fun together. I think it will be a really good thing – we are known to dominate bowlers and we have done it in the past as well. So, I always look forward to playing with Pant. I don’t consider myself competing with him,” Sanju Samson mentioned.

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