Ex-Cricketer Asks RR To Not Release Sanju Samson: 'Play Him As A Batter'
Kris Srikkanth urges Rajasthan Royals to retain Sanju Samson, suggesting he play as a specialist batter if not captain. Samson may be traded to CSK or KKR.
Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has urged the Rajasthan Royals not to release Sanju Samson and consider playing him as a specialist batter if they don't want to keep him as the captain. Srikkanth said releasing him will have a detrimental effect on the team balance as RR have been built around the Kerala star.
Samson and Royals seem set to part ways at the end of the season, with the batter having formally asked the team to release or trade him. Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are said to be frontline suitors for him, though the final decision, including on whether to trade or not trade, lies in the Royals' hands.
'Going by the reports, there seems to be a rift between him and Rahul Dravid, but I am not fully aware," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. 'Look at it from a franchise point of view. They have paid him a certain amount and retained him. They have formed the team around him. All of a sudden, if you release him, what happens to the team balance? They haven't won the IPL since 2008."
'They have reached the final after that. I don't think I would let go of Sanju Samson. If they want to promote Riyan Parag as captain, that is their choice. I would still play Samson as a batter. He's been paid INR 18 crore," he added.
Samson is not just the highest-scoring batter in RR's history but also their longest-serving captain. In the seven matches he couldn't captain the team, Parag stepped in, but could only see two wins.
Srikkanth added that if the Royals were to still let him go, he'd gladly take him at CSK as a future replacement for MS Dhoni.
'To tell you the truth, Sanju is a brilliant player and he's very popular in Chennai. He's got a good brand image in Chennai. As I said, I'll be the first one to pick him for Chennai if he is willing to leave and comes this side," said Srikkanth. 'He's the right replacement for MS Dhoni. Dhoni can play this season, maybe not the year after and then you can have a smooth transition. But I feel if Ruturaj Gaikwad has been given the captaincy, he should be continued with," he added.
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