Guru Dravid shares success mantra with Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson

Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson’s aggressive approach helped them plunder the Gujarat Lions’ bowling attack at will as they showed no mercy to even India’s go-to man Ravindra Jadeja.

They picked up 68 runs in four overs between overs 10 and 13 as they raced to 165/1 from 97/1 in no time. At the end of the match, team mentor Rahul Dravid lauded the approach of the two youngsters. In an interaction for the official IPL website, Dravid was in conversation with the duo and stated: “I’m glad they haven’t been watching too many videos of me batting.”

Pant and Samson put up 143 runs for the second wicket in just 10.3 overs. On being asked what exactly was their game plan as they approached the target, Pant said: “Nothing. I just told Sanju bhai ‘If you see the ball, just hit it.’ The ball is there to be hit, just hit it and don’t think about the next ball. If the next ball is also there to be hit, then hit again.”

“I was in good nick and I was watching the ball well. The atmosphere really helped me. This game is all about mindset,” Samson. “I started the innings really well. After hitting two sixes I wanted to take a single but Rishabh came up to me and said ‘bhaiya zyada socho mat, marte raho’ (Brother don’t think about it too much, just keep hitting). I guess that helped me as well.”

“It always helps when you have a good domestic season and then to carry that form into the IPL but as you said, we’ve won two matches in a row now but we’ll take one match at a time,” Pant told Dravid.

The former Indian captain was vividly pleased with the duo’s performance. “It was really impressive for me as well with Rishabh batting on 97, not thinking about his hundred and looking to get the team home. So, incredible innings from the two boys… As I’m a hard taskmaster I hope you’ll finish the job next time,” Dravid concluded.