HIGHLIGHTS

• Samson was dismissed for just four runs on Tuesday against Punjab Kings
• Gavaskar said that Samson has to play himself in before going for big shots
• RR beat PBKS by two runs thanks to a heroic effort from Kartik Tyagi in the final over

Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson has to improve his shot selection or it will be a waste of “such God-given talent”, said batting great Sunil Gavaskar. Samson was dismissed for just four runs off five balls in RR’s match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday.

While he had a good start to the season earlier this year, getting three consecutive scores over 40 before the season was postponed, this is Samson’s third consecutive single digit score in T20 cricket, having been dismissed for seven and a duck in the last two matches he played for India in Sri Lanka.

“What has let him down is the shot selection. Even at the international level, he doesn’t open the batting there. He was the second or the third wicket down. And he looks to hit the first ball out of the ground. That is impossible. That is absolutely impossible even if you’ve been in the richest vein of form. You have got to maybe knock it around for maybe twos and threes and get the feet moving and then look to play,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

“That is something he is going to watch out for. Because otherwise, it is going to be a waste of such God-given talent. I have always said that a lot of shot selection boils down to temperament. That is what separates the men from the boys. And therefore, for him to go on and be a regular player for India, his shot selection has to be that much better,” said Gavaskar.

RR were all out for 185 with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 49 off 36 and Mahipal Lomror later smashing 43 off just 17 balls. PBKS seemed to be cruising in their chase and needed just four runs to win off the last over with Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram in the middle. However, Kartik Tyagi bowled a near-perfect 20th over, conceding just one run and taking two wickets, helping his side to a two-run win.