Focus on the IPL, says Sangakkara to India’s World Cup hopefuls
Chennai, India - With the T20 World Cup less than five months away, Rajasthan Royals team director and former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara feels India hopefuls, Sanju Samson and Rahul Tewatia, need to focus on their performances in the IPL to book their spot for the tournament.
Samson's heroics at the IPL last season earned him a place in the India side for the T20Is against Australia, but he made just 48 runs in three games on the tour and was then left out for the series against England. Tewatia was called up for the England T20Is but he did not get a game.
Sangakkara had some advice for the two, who, according to him, have got 'great cricketing sense', on how to deal with the pressure and expectations.
"I think the pressure is always there," Sangakkara said. "You can try and forget about it but the reality is that expectations is always there. You have various coping mechanism and techniques to deal with them. It's important to have those grand ambitions of regularly playing international cricket.
“I think Sanju and Rahul are absolutely capable of being regulars, not just that but great outstanding performers on the international stage. They've got amazing ability, great cricketing sense and both of them over the years have progressed. Sanju has been a young batting superstar for quite a while on the Indian scene and is always talked about.
"I think the real key is the process to get to the ambition, take it match by match in the IPL, and keep your focus on the IPL. Each game you play each innings and that's how you break that process down. It is important that both of them have the freedom and trust of the team to express themselves - to be Sanju Samson and Rahul Tewatia."