Dravid, who was a part of RR up to now as participant and coach, was the one who obtained impressed by Samson’s batting abilities through the 2013 trials, after which the Royals purchased the then 18-year-old Samson on the IPL public sale.Samson has been a part of the Royals since then apart from the workforce’s two-year absence (2016 and 2017) from the IPL due to a ban due to corruption costs. Samson performed for Delhi for these two seasons.
Star Sports activities shared a video clip of Samson from an interview the place he’s narrating the story about how he got here for the RR trials and managed to win Dravid’s coronary heart.
“A few months earlier than I got here (joined RR), I believe trials have been occurring in Jaipur. Sreesanth bhai introduced me for these trials. I believe Rahul sir was there, Paddy Upton was there, Zubin Barucha (former RR Staff Director) was there,” Samson stated as he went down reminiscence lane.
“Earlier than that, I had gone for the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) trials as a teenager. So I used to be not anticipating rather a lot from these (RR) trials. You by no means know what’s going to occur, what sort of gamers they’re on the lookout for,” he added.
Samson first obtained picked for IPL by KKR in 2012, however didn’t play any match that season.
“So I used to be a part of the two-day (RR) trials. Earlier than or after that, I have not batted so nicely. It was a really special occasion for me,” the 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman from Kerala recalled.
Samson went on to explain how Rahul, who final performed within the IPL in 2013 earlier than being appointed RR’s coach, got here to him and congratulated for his effort within the trials.
“That day Rahul sir instructed me ‘You might be positively doing one thing actually nice. Would you wish to play for our workforce?’ It gave me quite a lot of confidence, coming from Rahul sir who has performed each form of cricket and has been a legend.
“If somebody like him is saying I’m adequate, then I’m adequate,” Samson stated.
Samson was appointed RR captain in 2021. A yr later, he led the workforce to the ultimate, however the 2008 champions misplaced to newcomers Gujarat Titans.