IPL 2023: It was a homecoming for Sanju Samson in Ranji Trophy Round 2 action. Even though Kerala was playing an away match against Rajasthan in India’s premium red-ball domestic tournament, their captain Sanju Samson felt at home. Because the wicketkeeper-batter was returning to Sawai Mansingh Stadium after a long wait. Notably, this stadium is also the home turf of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Men in Pink are currently being led by Sanju Samson. Follow IPL 2023 AUCTION LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
IPL 2023: Homecoming for Sanju Samson, ‘Blessed’ Rajasthan Royals and Kerala captain returns to Sawai Mansingh Stadium for Ranji Trophy match, shares EMOTIONAL post – CHECK out
Also Read: IPL 2023 Auction LIVE: Franchise officials to reach Kochi today, 10-team franchise meet & MOCK AUCTION tomorrow: Follow LIVE Updates (insidesport.in)
As the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, Jaipur may have been his second home in IPL. But this time Sanju Samson has travelled to the Pink City with the Kerala side to compete against Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy.
On his return to Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the RR captain posted a photo with a heartwarming caption. He wrote: “Back to where everything started !! @sawaimansinghstadium 🙏🏽☺️ Blessed !! #jaipur 💖 @rajasthanroyals.”
The IPL has been held at only a few venues since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. Hence Sanju hasn’t played in front of a packed Sawai Mansingh crowd in years. That’s why RR captain got emotional on his return to the stadium in Ranji fixture.
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The wicket-keeper batter was bought by the franchise in 2013 when he was 18. Even though he has failed to get run in the national team, Samson has been consistent for Royals. He has continued to be one of the mainstays of Royals’ batting and now being the skipper of the team he continues to do what he does the best that is to score runs.
Sanju Samson Kerala in Ranji Trophy
The BCCI is conducting a full-fledged domestic season for the first time since 2020 and all multi-day tournaments have also returned to the traditional home and away format.
Three years after he last played red-ball cricket, Sanju Samson scored a gritty half-century in Kerala’s opening fixture against Jharkhand.
Leading the team, he quickly capitalised on the strong start provided by the openers and stabilised the middle order. Forming a crucial partnership with centurion Akshay Chandran, Sanju got to his 13th first-class fifty in style. His knock of 72 was laced with four fours and seven sixes.
Thanks to a solid performance from the batting unit, Kerala posted 475 in the first innings. And despite an equally fighting performance from Jharkand, Sanju & co. registered an 85-run victory in the end, with Jalaj Saxena standing out as the star bowler with nine wickets in the match.
