Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has thrown his weight behind opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, dubbing him a ‘match winner’ and expressing full confidence in the youngster’s ability to deliver when it matters most.
Jaiswal, who has been a revelation for the Royals since making his debut for the team back in 2020, is yet to hit his stride in IPL 2025. However, Samson believes it’s only a matter of time before the elegant southpaw hits top gear.
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“He (Jaiswal) has been working really hard,” Samson was quoted by ESPNCricinfo. “I think he has been attending all the practice sessions. He does tick each and every box, which he has been ticking for the last six years.”
“You can see he is batting the most hours in the nets. We've had to wait for many hours for him to get out of the nets. So, he is doing everything possible from his side to score those runs, to win those matches. As we all know, IPL is a very challenging format.”
Samson also highlighted the attacking nature of Jaiswal’s game, noting that the role of an opener, especially in the IPL, comes with its inherent risks.
“His game is attacking. He wants to give us a positive start. He is looking for those boundaries. He is looking for those sixes. In that process, you tend to lose the wickets also,” Samson noted.
Despite the quiet start, Samson remains optimistic that Jaiswal will step up to the occasion as the season progresses.
“I think I would like to see him perform and come up the ranks at the right moment when the team requires him the most. I think I am happy that he is yet to perform. But I know when he performs, he will be winning the games for us as a team. So, he is doing everything fine,” the RR captain said.
Considered one of the hottest prospects in Indian cricket, Jaiswal, just 23, has scored 1641 runs in 56 IPL matches at an average of over 30. He has also been making waves in the international arena with his performances for the national team.
