It hurts that we lost after playing so well, says Rajasthan Royals' Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson of Rajasthan Royals in action during their match against Kings XI Punjab in Sharjah on Sunday

Sanju Samson’s eye-pleasing knock of 52 off 34 balls went in vain on Sunday as Glenn Maxwell and David Miller’s blitz pushed the 19-year-old’s scintillating effort into the shadows.

Rajasthan Royals had shown faith in the youngster after the Keralite’s impressive season last year by retaining him in the auctions and the U-19 star responded against Kings XI Punjab, playing with utmost ease, stroking the ball well even before his skipper Shane Watson got into action.

The attacking fifties by Samson and Watson helped RR put a formidable total of 191 on board, but Maxwell and Miller proved too good on the day. Samson feels hurt having contributed to the team’s cause but not ending up on the winning side.

“I have always loved to play for Rajasthan Royals and I am very happy that I contributed from my end to help the team get to a formidable total. But it hurts that we lost the match after playing so well,” he told IPLT20.com after the match last night.

But Samson’s not the one to blame the bowlers, and added the conditions helped the stroke-makers. “The wicket was supportive to the batsmen and the match was always alive even after getting 190-plus on the board. It was that kind of day for our opposition when everything went their way, and credit to them for the way they played,” he said.

Samson was part of the Indian squad which won the U19 Asia Cup in Sharjah and also played the U19 World Cup in UAE recently. In fact, he scored an attacking match-winning 100 off 87 deliveries in the Asia Cup final, and IPL being played in UAE is an advantage for the youngster who’s now well versed with the conditions there.

“I played many matches here in the UAE in under-19 tournaments. I played the Asia Cup and World Cup here and knew the wickets well. That experience really helped me to be in good touch ahead of the IPL.”

Samson caught public’s attention in IPL 6 with a couple of eye-catching innings along with his safe wicket-keeping, but really captured everyone’s imagination in CLT20 later last year, when he, along with Ajinkya Rahane, almost took the match away from eventual winners Mumbai Indians. He’s determined to play a more central role for Rajasthan Royals this year.

“This year, I want to finish more games for the Rajasthan Royals. I want to play according to my game plan. I have been successful in doing that so far. I am playing according to the opposition and choosing the bowlers that I want to attack.”

Samson’s innings so far have been adorned with free flowing shots and his ability to attack world-class bowlers without a care for their reputations, and he aims to continue the same way.

“I always try to dominate the bowlers and I am an aggressive batsman. Tonight, I felt like being aggressive while batting and was hungry for some runs and I got that. I always try to gauge my innings and play according to the situation. I play according to the field and according to the bowler I am facing. Tonight was no different.”