Sanju Samson’s hard work a lesson for rising stars

Dubai: Sanju Samson, the leading run-getter for India’s A team in the recent quadrangular series in Australia, is proving that the path to greater fame must be earned through hard work backed up with a lot of patience.

During my interactions with him during the Under-19 World Cup and Indian Premier League in the UAE, it was easy to pick out many qualities in him that most talented cricketers lack at a very young age, so it was not surprising that he emerged as the highest run scorer.

Today, there are many talented cricketers like him. Merely sharpening one’s skills need not bring consistency, one must also have a cool head and the ability not to be swayed by the pressures and praise that often follow talented players.

Many are of the opinion that Samson should have been included in the Indian team for the ongoing England series.

In fact, Samson too may have expected a call, but the good thing about him is that he does not seem to get affected and instead uses any opportunity that comes his way to prove his skill.

Samson hails from Kerala, a southern state in India from where the extremely talented bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth also hails. Sreesanth destroyed his career due to his inability to adjust to fame, pressures and weaknesses, but Samson’s ability to think like a cricketer should take him a long way.

When in Sharjah, I asked Samson what was the best advice he had received in his life. His reply was: “Every day I keep getting advice from many people. But what I have learned from all of them is that in cricket never rate yourself based on the result of the match.

“What is important is the extent of effort and preparation you put in and how you carry it into the ground to give your best. Whether I hit a duck or a century, I will not allow myself to be influenced by it. I will try to be the same both on and off the field.”

This is something every budding cricketer should try and adhere to.

In fact, many promising cricketers have perished purely due to their inability to keep their feet on the ground after some good performances.

Many start blaming selectors for being ignored and some start blaming those who have replaced them in the squad. A true cricketer must focus on the next opportunity through hard work like what Samson does every day.

Any youngster who practices this will not remain an ordinary player. A talented cricketer can be kept out or ignored for a short while, but not for very long.