IPL 2021: If A Batsman Fancies A Particular Bowler He Should Farm The Strike - Sanju Samson Explains Why He Denied Chris Morris The Single vs Punjab Kings

Rajasthan Royals captain, Sanju Samson elucidates on the single he denied to Chris Morris against Punjab Kings, which led to a bit of criticism for the young skipper despite scoring a fantastic ton in the game.

With 5 runs needed off the last 2 balls, bowled by Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson drove down the penultimate ball in the deep but refused the single to the non-striker Morris backing himself to clear the fence, as he did on the 4th ball of the over, and on 6 other times in the game.

Sanju Samson, however, fell a little short of the boundary line on the last ball as he was caught inside the fence and Punjab won the game by 4 runs. Now, in his column for the Hindustan Times, the 26-year-old wrote about the same.

“…my final thought on the denied single is this: the game is evolving and very soon in the future you won’t be seeing singles being attempted at that stage. If a batsman fancies a particular bowler, he should farm the strike and go for it. It has absolutely nothing to do with ego; just the simple demands of the moment and the team. Winning is everything,” wrote the Kerala batsman,

We made it clear that I will be taking most of the strike: Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson further revealed that it was already decided that he would take most of the strike as he was the set batter. Hence, he didn’t need to justify or speak about his decision to deny the single to the South African.

However, now, after watching the all-rounder win them their second game against Delhi Capitals, Samson would be confident of Morris’ ability of power-hitting more than he would have been earlier.

“To begin with, we were talking while the situation was unfolding itself. So, just before the 19th over began, we made it clear that I will be taking most of the strike; that even if I couldn’t hit a four or a six, we would be looking for twos to get me back on strike,” he added.

“It was only natural that we would be doing the same in the final over as well. This was clear to Morris, me and the team management. Therefore, no, I did not have to go to him after the game and explain myself for not taking the single off the penultimate ball – it was absolutely clear to both of us.

“Look, cricket is a really funny game. That night, I was also striking it so cleanly and still ended up getting out for a cheap score in the very next match. It was the reverse for Chris. He was finding it a bit tough to strike the ball against Punjab but everything was coming out of the middle of the bat versus Delhi,” the skipper further explained.

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