T Suman targets India A spot

T Suman, the Deccan Chargers batsman, has declared his intention to channel his success in the IPL into a major career boost. Suman was in impressive form during the latter half of the recently concluded third season of the IPL, during which he finished the third-highest run-scorer for Deccan, and hoped to find himself in the reckoning for an India A spot.

"I am happy with my performance in IPL. For the future, I want to get into India A or something like that. I want to do well in the coming Ranji matches," Suman told the Times of India.

After a relatively mute tournament, Suman sprang to life against Royal Challengers Bangalore in a win that paved the way for Deccan's five straight wins that got them into the IPL semi-finals. Suman was promoted to No. 3 - a position he occupied regularly in IPL 2009 - and made an unbeaten 78 that helped Deccan chase a target of 185 with seven wickets remaining.

He looked back at that Man-of-the-Match performance with pride and identified the move up the order as pivotal. "I cherish the match against Royal Challengers and my knock. We were chasing 184 and defeated Royal Challengers on their home ground," he said. "I am happy with my performance this season. I feel I improved gradually. In IPL 3, I think I did not get the opportunity to bat at the top. Once I got the opportunity, from the ninth match, I could do well."

Pragyan Ojha, Suman's Deccan and Hyderabad team-mate, also looked back on a successful tournament. Ojha scalped the most wickets, 21, and duly picked up the Purple Cap for most successful bowler. "I was clear in my mind. I was sticking to the basics," he said. "I was not trying too many things. I was not putting pressure on me. I just stuck to the basics on the pitches which was helpful."

Ojha's form did not earn him a spot in India's World Twenty20 squad but he was not disheartened. "There are ups and downs in life. I would like to do well whenever I get the opportunity," he said.