Cricket-Rajasthan coach Sangakkara urges Parag not to look too far ahead

Cricket – ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – Final – India v Australia – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India – November 19, 2023 General view inside the stadium during the match REUTERS/Amit Dave
With three half-centuries in five games, Rajasthan batter Riyan Parag is being tipped as a potential pick for India’s T20 World Cup squad but Royals coach Kumar Sangakkara wants the 22-year-old to stay focused on the Indian Premier League. Parag scored 76 in Rajasthan’s three-wicket loss to the Gujarat Titans on Wednesday, bringing his tally to 261 runs for the season. He is second in the race for the ‘orange cap’, awarded to the tournament’s leading scorer, behind Royal Challengers’ Virat Kohli. Sangakkara told reporters that while he did not know if Parag would be picked for the World Cup in the West Indies and United States in June the player’s performances in the IPL showed how good he could be. “That’s way beyond me, but his potential is there for everyone to see,” he added. “For him, it is about concentrating on Rajasthan and this season. “Whatever happens will happen after that. You should never get too ahead of yourself in terms of looking at things too far ahead in the future.“As long as keeps his head down, and is working very hard, batting really well. He’s very organised, he’s worked hard in the off-season. And if he continues to do that, good things will happen,” former Sri Lanka skipper Sangakkara added. Cricket-Rajasthan coach Sangakkara urges Parag not to look too far ahead
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Nadal wins on injury comeback at Barcelona Open

BARCELONA - Rafael Nadal made light work of Flavio Cobolli on a triumphant return from injury at the Barcelona Open on Tuesday.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion had not played an ATP Tour match since January but dispatched the Italian 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 25 minutes to reach the second round.

Nadal, 37, was able to play on clay for the first time since winning the French Open in 2022 and showed flashes of his usual brilliance in a solid display.

"It was a good start -- when you return you can't get rid of the doubts in one day, above all, on a physical level," Nadal told TVE.

"Within what it could be, it was a good first round. He made mistakes and I think I played the game that I had to play."

Nadal who has triumphed at Roland Garros a record 14 times, is hoping to play there in May in what he expects to be the final year of his professional career.

The clay court king, who missed most of 2023 injured, will face Alex de Minaur on Wednesday after breezing past Cobolli.

"It will be at a speed that I don't know if I will be able to keep up with, but I'll try," Nadal said of facing the 11th-ranked De Minaur.

After a double fault to fall 30-0 behind Nadal found his rhythm, with Cobolli intimidated by the fervent support for the Spaniard on the court named after him.

Nadal converted his third break point in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead, with Cobolli surviving four more to hold at 4-2 down.

The 12-time Barcelona Open winner broke again to claim the set in 43 minutes, clenching his fist in celebration.

Cobolli handed Nadal a break for 2-0 in the second set with two more unforced errors but finally put some pressure on Nadal's serve in the third game to break back.

However Nadal broke again for 3-1 after Cobolli's third double fault and served it out to triumph.

The Spaniard did not produce any aces and his serve was effective but not explosive.

"I've gone months without being able to serve, (and) although I've got a lot of excitement to play here and do the best I can, I'm not going to go crazy with the serve," added Nadal.

"I have to serve with caution that the moment I'm in dictates... there are moments in which I feel more liberated and others in which I'm more careful."

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