“I was selected by Rahul Dravid in 2013, and he is now coach and I am captain.” Sanju Samson considers the “surreal” journey of the Rajasthan Royals.

With IPL 2025 only a week away, Sanju Samson expressed his gratitude for Rahul Dravid leadership and direction, describing it as “surreal” to work with him once more.

Sanju Samson, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, recently gave some thought to his lengthy relationship with the team and his path from being a young player in 2013 under Rahul Dravid’s leadership to currently leading the team under Dravid’s coaching.

Prior to serving as team director and mentor in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Rahul Dravid captained the Royals in the IPL in 2012 and 2013. He has now rejoined the squad as head coach. After leading the Indian national side to their first ICC title in more than ten years, the T20 World Cup win, his coaching career came to an end in June 2024.

More than ten years after being initially seen by Dravid at the Rajasthan Royals’ 2013 tryouts, Samson will now command the squad under Dravid’s tutelage. On his first encounter with the batting icon, the Kerala batsman opened up.

“The way things turn out is really humorous. Rahul Sir was the one who noticed me at the trials in my first season. Back then, he served as captain and watched for emerging talent. He approached me after observing me and asked, “All right, would you be able to play for my team?” It feels unreal from that day to the present. I am currently the team’s captain, and Rahul Sir has rejoined the coaching staff after a long absence. It’s a distinct and memorable sensation. We are all happy to have him back because he was always a member of the Rajasthan Royals family. It’s incredibly exciting to expect to learn a lot from him in the upcoming years,” he stated on JioHotstar.

He also talked about Dravid’s commitment to the game and his coaching style. Samson related an instance from training camps where he witnessed Dravid in action.

“I’ve always been close to him as well as seen him from a distance. He is an excellent professional who makes sure that all preparations are handled. I seen his level of involvement when I was with him in Nagpur, Talegaon, last month. He was there from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., in the sweltering heat, watching bowlers and batsmen bowl and talking with the coaches about their tactics. From A to Z, he is totally dedicated to the team. I respect that and would like to learn more about improving my preparation. One of his strongest traits is preparation, which I want to use to my own strategy,” he continued.

“He is still totally engrossed in the game.” In reference to Rahul Dravid, Sanju Samson

In response to the question of whether the renowned batter ever tires, Samson stated that Dravid is still totally focused on the game at this age and that there is plenty to be learned from his love of it.

That’s how much he enjoys the game. His homage to cricket is that. I recalled sitting in the back and watching him practice shadows by himself while standing in the sun close to the sight screen. He is still totally engrossed in the game. His enthusiasm offers a wealth of observational and educational opportunities,” Samson continued.

The 30-year-old continued talking about the captain, Dravid. He emphasized his ability to lead from the front, communicate well, and manage a variety of players. The right-handed batter is eager to apply the same strategy as the 18th season of the cash-rich league draws near.

“I observe how he led from the front as a captain, not only with his abilities but also off the field. When he was captain, he never skipped an optional practice. I watched his interactions with younger players in the locker room, his interactions with senior players, his management of team meetings, and his reception of new players. The wicketkeeper-batter came to the conclusion that “all those little but important things shaped my understanding of leadership, and I try to follow the same approach.”