Sanju Samson, captain of the well-known Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently talked about his strong relationship with Jos Buttler, a former colleague. He also discussed the emotional challenges of saying goodbye to the English celebrity.
Prior to the IPL 2024 auction, Buttler, a vital member of the Royals lineup since 2018, was let go. Buttler and Samson have a long-standing working relationship at the franchise, and Samson acknowledged that the choice was tough for him and the whole RR family.
“The IPL not only offers you the chance to play at the greatest level and lead a team, but it also enables you to form strong friendships. One of my closest buddies is Jos Buttler. We had a lengthy batting partnership during our seven years of playing together. We were always in contact and know one other very well. I thought of him as an older brother,” Samson told JioHotstar.
The two developed a strong opening combination for RR over the years, and Buttler was instrumental in the team’s accomplishments, including taking home the Orange Cap in the 2022 Indian Premier League. Buttler was an important deputy to Samson when he assumed the captaincy, offering essential assistance. Sanju Samson also stated his wish to amend the IPL regulation that compels teams to cut players because of retention issues.
He was my vice-captain when I was made captain, and he was really helpful in guiding the team. One of the hardest things for me to do has been to let him go. I informed him over dinner that I still hadn’t moved on, even during the England series. If I could alter one aspect of the IPL, it would be the player release policy. “On a personal level, you lose connections and relationships built over years, even though it has its positives,” the Kerala-based footballer added.
We considered Jos family: Sanju Samson
In addition, the captain of Rajasthan highlighted Jos Buttler’s influence on the team and how the entire team viewed him as a member of the family. Because he was not retained during the IPL big auctions, it was difficult for the owners, coaches, and support personnel to let him go.
“It has been difficult for me, the owners, the coaches, the entire team, and everyone else connected to RR. We considered Jos family,” Samson said.
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