Virat Kohli changed my perspective, my dedication towards cricket: Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson has been in terrific form in this year’s Dream11 Indian Premier League. The Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper batsman is perhaps one of the finest prospects in recent times.

The Kerala-born cricketer revealed a conversation which he had with India and Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli. “When I was in the gym with the Indian team, I was there with Virat bhai. I asked him what is his training routine and how he puts so much energy into fitness.”

Sanju Samson has so far played 95 matches amassing 2368 runs, including two centuries and twelve half-centuries in the IPL. The youngster is yet to make a breakthrough on the international stage, playing for the men in blue.

“I kept on asking him a lot of such different questions. Then he asked me ‘Sanju how many years are you going to play cricket’, so I said that I am 25 right now, and I can play for another 10 years or so,” the 25-year-old said.

Captain Kohli leads by example and also motivates his teammates to adopt a good fitness routine so they can achieve the best results. 

“Then Virat told me, after 10 years you can do whatever, you can eat food from Kerala and whatever else you want to do, but you won’t be able to play cricket after these 10 years. So, why don’t you give everything, whatever you have, to cricket in these 10 years,” the Kerala-born cricketer said.

“So, he really changed my perspective, my dedication towards cricket. I was already very dedicated, but this made me further change the way I think,” Samson added.

It's just a matter of time before he makes the most out of his next international call-up to rubberstamp his credentials for the Indian team.