Sri Lanka batting great Kumar Sangakkara urged clear communication and clarity within the squad as Rajasthan Royals kicked off preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season beginning March 28.
Addressing the squad during the initial training sessions, Sangakkara emphasised the importance of open dialogue between players and the coaching staff. He highlighted that the pre-season camp is the ideal time for new and returning members of the squad to connect, understand each other’s expectations and align their efforts towards a common objective.
“Okay, guys, some of us have been here before, some for many years, some for one year, some of you are new, right? So first things first, it’s a great opportunity to just start talking to each other and getting to know each other, right? That’s how we start into a season. Number two is to ease yourself into practice, right? We’ll introduce ourselves one-on-one tomorrow, but talk to the coaches, tell us what you need, we will tell you what you need or what we need from you, not what you need, but what we need from you,” Sangakkara said in a video shared by the franchise.
The former Sri Lanka captain also underlined the collaborative nature of the team environment, encouraging players to maintain a relaxed atmosphere while ensuring that training sessions remain productive.
“It’s always a nice collaboration, it’s a partnership, right? That’s how we all do things, okay? I like a relaxed attitude, I like people having fun, I like people talking, smiling, but when you’re doing work, remember we all need to get something out of the time we’re here,” he added.
Sangakkara advised the squad to make the most of practice sessions by focusing on quality rather than quantity, expressing optimism about the campaign ahead despite the presence of several new faces in the team. “Use it smartly; you don’t need to practice too long, you don’t need to be too short, you need to be right so that everyone gets what they want and what they need, but it’s really great to see you,” he said.
“I look forward to a wonderful season. I look forward to getting to know all of you, and we’re going to be a tight, tight group. Okay, that’s all I have, man,” Sangakkara concluded.
Rajasthan Royals will open their campaign against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings on March 30 in Guwahati. The side, led by Riyan Parag, will then travel to Narendra Modi Stadium to take on Gujarat Titans on April 4.
Rajasthan will subsequently return to Guwahati for consecutive home fixtures against Mumbai Indians on April 7 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10.