I am tired of hearing that Sanju Samson has talent. Yes, he does. But does he bring out his A game when it matters the most? Has he been able to deliver under pressure and make it count when the going is challenging? Will he himself admit that he has not done justice to his ability?
Two play-off games, and on both occasions, Samson fell short. An atrocious shot against Karn Sharma had potentially opened the door for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and against Sunrisers, the rush of blood cost his team dearly. Just when Yashasvi Jaiswal was back in the hut after forging a partnership, Samson needed to take control. Instead, he decided to be a hero and play the big shot. A tame end when the platform was set for him to be the star. Carry his team to a win, and make the final as skipper. As Rohit Juglan, my colleague, lamented soon after he got out, “Why, Sanju, why?”
The truth is, as captain, Samson has to take a lot of responsibility for Rajasthan Royals (RR) losing out in the play-offs. The shots were reckless, and just not needed. And this is what has defined Samson’s career. After a few dazzling innings that leave you in awe and gawking at the man’s talent, he will inevitably play a few knocks which leave his fans in shock. The question is why it happens time and again, and why Samson never appears to learn his lesson? Why would he make the same mistakes year on year, and how is it that Rajasthan, despite a very good side, keep faltering at the business end of the season?
Let’s decode his shots in the last two games. Against RCB, he danced down the track almost blindfolded and it allowed Karn to bowl it much wider, leaving him stranded. Karthik had a zillion years to stump him. The shot was ugly, and could have cost RR. And last night was worse. With two fielders stationed in that arc, it was always going to be risky. And yet, Samson tried it within minutes of Jaiswal throwing his wicket away. It was always risky, but then Samson seems to prefer to live by the sword.
We have often wondered why Samson has not played more for India. Why is it that others who maybe aren’t as talented have played more than him? Almost all of us, at some point, have felt that he has been treated unfairly. But each time we do, and each time he gets a big break, he squanders the opportunity. In the last four games this season, he scored 58 off 60 balls and his dismissals left his side in a mess.
While one has to say that Pat Cummins was brilliant as skipper and employed his spinners superbly well, one also has to say that fans wanted to see fight from Samson and his team. In a game where the stakes are at their highest, you want your leader to play a stellar role. Make a difference, and be the Pied Piper. Nothing of the sort happened for RR, and Samson was yet again the man in focus as the franchise pondered what could have been.
I must confess I like watching Samson play, love the elegance and the ability to hit some incredible shots. But I also have to admit that he frustrates us all and leaves us to wonder why he does what he does? The truth is, he himself may not know. For, if he did, the same errors of judgement wouldn’t be repeated season after season. In a game of tactics, it was Cummins who just blew Samson away. In doing so, he made sure his own blow hot-blow cold team are there in Sunday’s fimal against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Samson can now turn his attention to the World Cup, and dig deep to be better prepared. It is yet another opportunity, and none of us want him to blow it again. Talent without the results isn’t really talent at all, and Samson runs the risk of being labelled as one who wasted his potential, and was never able to elevate himself to greatness when it mattered the most.
Also Read: Turning point: Jaiswal hands over initiative to Sunrisers