In what is turning out to be a great start to their campaign, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have hit the ground running in their Indian Premier League (IPL) title charge this season. The Steve Smith-led brigade had sent their fans into delirium after beating three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening match and then followed it up with a sensational win against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).

Chasing a mammoth total of 223 runs, Rajasthan pulled off the highest successful run-chase in the history of the tournament, securing an emphatic four-wicket win. Rajasthan's record-breaking chase was derived on the back of an impressive power-hitting exhibition from their batting unit.

© Twitter/@IPL

It was Samson's second consecutive fifty-plus score this season. He had also played a match-winning knock of 74 runs, which came off just 32 deliveries, during their 16-run win over Chennai in the opening match.

For someone who has been a consistent performer for Rajasthan, not only this season, but over the years, Samson, well-deservedly, earned plaudits from cricket pundits and fans alike on social media. Amongst those singing his praise was Shashi Tharoor who has been a vocal admirer of the Rajasthan batsman.

What an absolutely incredible win for @rajasthanroyals ! I’ve known @iamSanjuSamson for a decade & told him when he was 14 that he would one day be the next MS Dhoni. Well, that day is here. After his two amazing innings in this IPL you know a world class player has arrived.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 27, 2020

Taking to Twitter, the Lok Sabha MP tweeted: What an absolutely incredible win for @rajasthanroyals! I’ve known @iamSanjuSamson for a decade & told him when he was 14 that he would one day be the next MS Dhoni. Well, that day is here. After his two amazing innings in this IPL you know a world class player has arrived".

While Tharoor comparing Samson to one of Indian cricket's greatest stars is surely an achievement, the likes of Gautam Gambhir and Sreesanth opined that it wasn't a fair comparison as the right-hander should be celebrated as his own man.

Sanju Samson doesn’t need to be next anyone. He will be ‘the’ Sanju Samson of Indian Cricket. https://t.co/xUBmQILBXv

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) September 27, 2020

Responding to Tharoor's tweet, the former Indian opener wrote: "Sanju Samson doesn’t need to be next anyone. He will be ‘the’ Sanju Samson of Indian Cricket".

He is not next Dhoni .,he is @IamSanjuSamson the one and only.he should have been playing from 2015 regularly in all formats.pls don’t compare him,if he had given right opportunities then ,he would have been playing like this for india and would have won world cups ..but

— Sreesanth (@sreesanth36) September 28, 2020

Following in the footsteps of Gambhir, Sreesanth, too, voiced a similar opinion before tweeting: "He is not next Dhoni. he is @IamSanjuSamson the one and only. he should have been playing from 2015 regularly in all formats. pls don't compare him, if he had given right opportunities then, he would have been playing like this for india and would have won world cups..but".

For someone who has undoubtedly emerged as a potential flag-bearer for the state of Kerala, Samson has played some of the most impressive knocks in the IPL and domestic cricket over the years but, still, failed to cement his spot in Team India. The 25-year-old made his international debut back in 2015, but, since then, Samson has donned the national jersey only on four occasions (all T20Is).

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