Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, who works with Sanju Samson during the Indian Premier League in the Rajasthan Royals setup, has advised the Indian keeper-batter to keep things simple ahead of India’s upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. On Tuesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squads for the Sri Lanka series with some big changes to both T20I and ODI teams.
While Sanju Samson has been included in the 16-member squad selected for the T20Is but he couldn’t find a place in the ODI set-up once again despite playing some impressive knocks in the 50-over format. Sanju had scored an unbeaten 86 against Proteas in Lucknow during the 3-match ODI series before the T20 World Cup. Sanju was given an opportunity in the 1st ODI match against New Zealand in November but was ignored for the Bangladesh tour. However, he is now missing from the ODI team for the Sri Lanka series.
Also, his last T20I appearance came in August 2022 against the West Indies, and now he will be seen in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Samson will be approaching the upcoming series after his excellent performances in the recent domestic matches.
Meanwhile, speaking on the Satr Sports show ‘A Chat with Champions’, recently, Kumar Sangakkara said that he has the versatility to play across different batting positions but needs to keep a clear head. Sangakkara feels that the player should not be focusing on proving his mettle and instead should enjoy his game. He said:
“He’s got to keep things simple; just concentrate on batting. The IPL is one thing; playing for India is another. What you’ve got to really concentrate on, as Sanju Samson in the Indian side, is understanding what your job is. When you go out, make sure you’re relaxed and that you have clarity about how you’re going to play your role,”
He added: “He might have to bat outside of his normal position depending on where they want him to fit in. Whether he’s batting at the top or lower-middle order at 5 and 6, he’s got the game, the power, the touch, the placement, and the mentality to do really well.”
“The one thing he shouldn’t do is think that this is his final chance to prove his mettle and try and be desperate to succeed. He’s got every single thing going for him. He’s a wonderful young man, he’s got skills and temperament. Let it settle, don’t fight it, make sure you’re adjusting to what comes at you on the day. And then, go out there and enjoy the way he plays.”
