IPL 2023: "He doesn't like easy situations" - Sanju Samson praises Shimron Hetmyer after the win

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson applauded the swashbuckling batter Shimron Hetmyer after their thrilling win over Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets, saying that he usually wins the games for their side under such crucial situations. However, Hetmyer and Samson scored the fifties as RR beat Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

While speaking after the game, Sanju Samson said that he is happy to compete in such games and come out on top, further adding that GT played some quality cricket. However, RR chased down a target of 178 runs from a tough position of 4 for 2 at one point in a last-over thriller in Ahmedabad in the IPL 2023 as well.

“When you play quality opponents on a quality wicket, you get such games. Very happy to compete in such a game and come out on top. It was important to rotate our bowlers, they were playing some quality cricket and we had to respect that,” said Samson.

However, he also went on to say that the whole team rose to the challenge and did quite well, adding that Adam Zampa was brought into the attack to deal with David Miller and he almost did his work by dismissing him in the 13th over. Zampa dropped Miller’s catch when he was batting on only six runs, before going on to smash 46 runs off 30 balls as well.

“The whole team came up well today and we could restrict them to around 170. The start we had, it shows how good a wicket this was. The new ball the quality of swing bowling was good and we had to respect that. But today Zampa coming was a way to match-up with the opponents. He was the match-up for Miller and almost got the wicket, but the catch was dropped,” Sanju Samson again shared.

Sanju Samson also said Shimron Hetmyer doesn’t like easy situations and usually wins the game under crucial situations in the game. However, with this win, RR placed at the top spot in the IPL 2023 points table, with four wins in five matches so far.

“He doesn’t like easy situations, we like putting him in such situations because he usually wins us such situations,” concluded Sanju Samson.

On the other hand, Shimron Hetmyer, who won the Player of the Match award, said after the game: “I don’t have any words. Difficult to win against these guys, they beat us thrice last year but today was sort of a revenge. I practise these situations, it helps when you practise with that mindset of knowing we are few wickets down and chasing 100 with 8 overs to go. (On Noor Ahmad bowling the final over) I was actually pretty happy to be honest, he bowled well throughout so the first ball all I was thinking about was getting that double and take it from there.”