Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara wants Sanju Samson to get a long run in the Indian team. Samson was named in the three-match T20I series squad for the series against Sri Lanka. However, the Kerala wicket-keeper bat hasn’t received consistent chances in the Indian team despite performing decently with the bat.

Samson had scored 36 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand but he was dropped in the last two ODIs of the series as Deepak Hooda was included in the final XI as the latter can provide a bowling option.

The 28-year-old has scored 330 runs in 11 ODI matches at an average of 66 whereas he has scored 296 runs in 16 T20I matches at an average of 21.14.

“I want to see Sanju getting a long run in this Indian side because he is a very special player. They have got a good mixture of pace, spin, and utility players. It will be a tough challenge for Sri Lanka but in T20 they have tools to match them,” Sangakkara told PTI during an interaction organized by Star Sports.

On the other hand, Ruturaj Gaikwad also returned to the team after performing at his best in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Maharashtra captain amassed 660 runs in five matches at an average of 220.

Talking about Gaikwad, Sangakkara said: “I love watching Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting and he is one player who can bat correctly and yet have an enormous impact in T20 cricket.”

Meanwhile, Sangakkara also feels Rishabh Pant can improve his wicket-keeping, which will increase his confidence.

“I think for one Rishabh Pant can improve his wicketkeeping quite a bit. A lot of people only concentrate on his batting, and it is a combination of two that increases confidence,” Sangakkara said.

“I know it is hard and boring but he can really become good by concentrating on smaller moments and that in turn will help him in white ball cricket, and then he will become the keeper he is expected to become.”

India will take on Sri Lanka in the first T20I on 3rd January in Mumbai.