Not all lies are morally wrong or bad; sometimes, they are told for the greater good
Since childhood, we have been taught that lying is morally wrong. However, as we grow up, we realise that a little bit of lying for a good or greater deed isn't such a bad thing—this concept is called a white lie, and most of us indulge in white lies on a regular basis.
Cricketers are no different from us, and therefore, when a youngster's career looked bleak in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a former Indian cricketer made a gutsy move. He told a blatant lie to a team's coach and gave the youngster's career a lifeline.
This is the tale of IPL's greatest white lie – a lie that gave Indian cricket a gem of a player.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) started the IPL with big names on paper, but in terms of performance, the first three years were a horror show. However, as Gautam Gambhir took charge of the team, the Riders' fortunes changed. The team lifted its first IPL title in 2012, followed by another in 2014. During this period, several youngsters got Gambhir's backing.
However, Sanju Samson was one of the youngsters in the KKR squad. He entered the IPL in 2009 and was one of KKR's promising lot. In 2012, KKR even signed Samson but kept him warming the bench. To be honest, the team had a winning combination, and Gambhir did not tinker with it. There was no doubt in Samson's talent, but he wasn't in the right place at the right time.
During a match against Rajasthan Royals, Sanju Samson encountered Sreesanth, an Indian bowler from Samson's home state, Kerala. After a brief chat, Sreesanth learned about Samson's ordeal, and that's when the former cooked a lie.
Sreesanth went to Rahul Dravid, who was then leading Rajasthan Royals, and said, "There's this kid from Kerala who smashed six sixes in an over in a local tournament. We should definitely give him a trial."
Speaking to Sportskeeda, Sreesanth also revealed the story. In his own words, the former Indian bowler explained, "Rahul bhai listened to me when I introduced Sanju to him. I lied to him, I said, 'This kid hit me for six sixes in a local tournament'. Rahul bhai said, 'Shree, kuch bhi bol, ye kyu bol raha hai?' He didn't do too well in a few practice games. But when Rahul bhai saw him bat, he was convinced."
Sanju Samson quickly established his place in the Rajasthan Royals squad. Over the years, he has played 169 matches, scoring 4,485 runs, and has been the captain of the Royals. His consistency in the IPL also earned him the Indian blue jersey, and he has proved his mettle on the international stage as well.
