Sanju Samson, who will lead the Rajasthan Royals for the fifth gradual year, credited Rahul Dravid’s leadership as a major impact on his approach. Dravid’s return to Rajasthan Royals as a head coach in 2025, after a successful tenure with the Indian team, which ended in his T20 World Cup victory, marked a full-cycle moment for Samson. Dravid’s association with Royals went back to 2012-13, when he captained the side, the Indian Great chose Samson during a test during a period. Dravid later became the director and patron of the team in 2014-15. Samson said that from a young talent to the captain of the Royals, his visit to the captain of the Royals has been shaped by Dravid’s mentorship.
“It’s quite fun of how things work. In my first season, Rahul sir was the same who saw me during the trial,” Samson told Gehotstar.
While showing how far he came from, he further said: “He was the captain who was looking for the young talent. After seeing me, he came to me and said, ‘Okay, can you play for my team?” From that day till date, it seems real.
“Now, I am the captain of the franchise, and Rahul Sir has returned after so many years to coach the team. It’s a unique and special feeling. He was always part of the Rajasthan Royals family, and is grateful to all of us to get back.
“I have played both in Rajasthan Royals and the Indian team when he was a coach. But now, while having a coach, I really have something special towards the captain. I am eager to learn a lot from them in the coming years, and it is really exciting.” Samson further stated that he praises how Dravid did his effective communication with both seniors and new people, for example, on the field and outside.
“As a captain, I see how he moves beyond the front – not only through his skills but also from the field. He ever missed an alternative practice session when he was the captain.
“I noticed how he treated young players in the dressing room, how he communicated with seniors, how he handled the team’s meetings, and how he welcomed new players. All those little but important things shaped my understanding of leadership, and I try to follow the same approach.” Asked if Dravid sometimes tired, Samson said, “This is his love for the game. This is his tribute to cricket.
“I remember that to sit on the back and stand in the sun, near the findscreen, the shadow is practicing. Still, he is completely immersed in the game. There is a lot to see and learn from his passion.” ‘Dravid was fully committed’ ==================== Recently, despite being safe in an artist with his left leg, he attended the Presiden Camp despite being in Baisakhi with his left leg. He injured his left leg while playing in the Karnataka Club match with his younger son Anve.
“I have always seen him from a distance and has been close to him. He is a top rungry professional to ensure that every aspect of preparation is taken care of.
“I was with him in Nagpur, Talegaon last month, and saw how he was involved. From 10 am to 5 pm, in summer, he was looking at the batsmen’s bat and bowlers bowl, talking to them, discussing strategies with coaches.
He said, “He is completely committed to the team, from A to Z. This is something I praise and learn – better preparing. Preparation is an important part of his character, and I want to include it in my approach,” he said.
In the previous edition, Rajasthan Royals, who lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eliminator, will launch their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a distance on 23 March.
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