Captain of Rajasthan Royals Sanju Samson has been in sensational form in the ongoing IPL 2024. RR Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara was impressed with Samson’s exceptional batting skills this season and said the wicketkeeper’s outstanding performance warrants him the role of India’s main wicketkeeper in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Samson has been selected along with Rishabh Pant in India’s 15-man squad for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. However, Sangakkara backed Samson as the Men in Blue’s first choice wicketkeeper for the mega event considering the RR skipper’s consistency, holding and leadership.
The RR skipper and wicketkeeper-batter is currently the third highest run-scorer in the ongoing IPL 2024, with 471 runs from 11 matches and an impressive average of 67 in the tournament so far. He has already hit five half-centuries in the tournament and is leading the RR from the front.
Kumar Sangakkara backs Sanju Samson over Rishabh Pant for India’s wicketkeeping role in the 2024 T20 World Cup
While both Samson and Pant have showcased their batting prowess in the ongoing IPL 2024, Sangakkara believes that the RR skipper is currently in the race for the role of wicketkeeper-batter for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to begin on June 1 in the USA begins, leads and Caribbean.
However, the Sri Lanka legend downplays the Pant-Samson debate but believes the RR skipper’s consistent performance and leadership qualities make him a strong contender for the wicketkeeper-batter role in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. He also hopes Samson gets a long run at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
As reported by Hindustan Times, Kumar Sangakkara said at the post-match press conference after the DC vs RR IPL 2024 clash in Delhi: “It’s really up to Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma and how they see the combination. But he has made his point and hopefully he will have a good run at the World Cup.”
He is a special player: Sangakkara on Samson
Meanwhile, Pant was praised for his wicketkeeping skills and batting performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 after recovering from a car accident in December 2022. The Delhi Capitals (DC) captain has amassed 413 runs from 12 matches in the tournament so far.
However, Sangakkara emphasized Sanju SamsonHe praised his clear approach and praised his efforts to address past weaknesses. He said that with a change in mindset, the Indian star can do anything now. Notably, Samson is currently the third highest scorer in the ongoing IPL 2024, trailing only Virat Kohli (542 runs) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (541 runs).
Sangakkara remarked: “The most important thing for Sanju this season is that he has a lot of clarity on how to bat. There are certain phases of the game where he seems to lose concentration a bit, something we’ve talked about in previous seasons.
He has changed his mindset about the importance of rest and recovery instead of constantly training and being mentally and physically tired. He’s a special player and when he’s fresh and focused there’s nothing he can’t do.”