Ruturaj Gaikwad hopes opening combo with Sanju Samson fires

CHENNAI: Just over a month ago, Sanju Samson returned to the India squad against Zimbabwe in the World Cup Super-8 stage and struck a brisk 24 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here. He followed it up with three match-winning knocks in successive games, eventually being named ‘Player of the Tournament’ as India lifted the World Cup.

Come Friday, the wicketkeeper-batter will be back at Chepauk, this time in yellow. His CSK debut yielded only six runs, but he will be eager to find the same push he received during that India-Zimbabwe clash, when the Chepauk crowd lifted him with deafening support. Against Punjab Kings, Samson will look to ride that energy again and spark his campaign to life.




His opening partner and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was quick to heap praise on the 31-year-old from Kerala.

“I congratulated him on his first boundary for yellow. Being a south boy, I knew he would always be welcomed here. And I am definitely more delighted to have him in my squad. (He is) A player with a lot of experience, a lot of calibre and definitely someone who I can always go up to. So, you know, it is a good addition. Hopefully, we will have many more partnerships, going into the season,” said Gaikwad.

‘We didn’t have the best of squads last year’

After Super Kings’ harrowing campaign last season, the arrival of Samson to the team feels timely. The batter, unstoppable once he finds his rhythm, offers CSK the kind of spark they sorely missed.

Gaikwad, speaking about the struggles last year, admitted the team’s balance was off. “I think we didn't have the best of squads last year, no disrespect to any players. But I think the combination didn’t just click the way we wanted. And then, obviously, the second year of the cycle, you just have limited options, limited pool available. And you try to fill in those gaps with whatever players available. And you kind of hope that things will turn and things will fall in place.

“So, yes, we might have missed out on a few good players in the main auction that happened ahead of last season. Sometimes, auctions not going really well or things not falling into place can change the outlook of the whole cycle that you have. So, I think, this year we tried to fix some of the places. And a lot depends on how individuals click, how individuals play and perform as well,” said the captain.
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