“He has been doing it for years”: Sanju Samson lauds ‘finisher’ Hetmyer

After clinching a thrilling three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their latest Indian Premier League (IPL) fixture at Mullanpur Stadium, Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson praised Shimron Hetmyer’s decisive innings and acknowledged Yashasvi Jaiswal’s crucial contribution to the team’s performance.

Reflecting on the match, which solidified RR’s top position on the points table with five wins, Samson shared his thoughts during the post-match presentation. “These matches against Punjab have always been nail-biters, and today was no exception. They put up a great bowling performance, making it a challenging chase for us,” he noted.

Samson highlighted Hetmyer’s role in the team’s success, stating, “Hetmyer has consistently shown his caliber in finishing games. His experience and calmness under pressure are invaluable, and along with Rovman Powell, they form a formidable duo at the tail-end of our batting lineup.”

The RR skipper also commended Tanush Kotian, who opened the innings with Jaiswal. “Tanush had an outstanding Ranji Trophy season and has continued to impress all of us. We chose not to tinker much with the batting order because he has been doing well. It was heartening to see Jaiswal find form and contribute significantly today,” Samson added.

Kotian, who was recently named ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the Ranji Trophy, has been a revelation this season, contributing both with the bat and ball. He scored over 500 runs and took 29 wickets in the tournament, showcasing his all-round capabilities.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal, who has had a modest IPL season, added valuable runs to his tally today, which could help in boosting his confidence for the upcoming matches.