It has always been so near yet so far for Sanju Samson. Sometimes an untimely injury, a few times a string of average scores at the wrong time and latest was the Yo-Yo test that kept him away from wearing the elusive Indian cap.
After all these missed opportunities, the 23-year-old cricketer from Kerala doesn’t bother much about his selection into the national side.
"I have stopped thinking about selection because when you think about it, your mind is not in the match and you are not in the right frame of mind," he told reporters after India A lost to South Africa A in the Quadrangular series here.
Though Samson has been in good form in the last IPL, cracking three half-centuries and also having done well in last Ranji season by averaging 50-odd, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman has been out of national selectors' reckoning.
Asked if at all he expects to get into the national side, Samson said, "If you perform well, you are almost there. If I have a good season, there might be a chance."
"But it is better to forget about getting into the team, instead enjoy every game and keep doing well as batsman and wicketkeeper."
Samson said there is always pressure whenever he walks into the field.