EXCLUSIVE: Sandeep Sharma Recalls Defending 7 Off 3 Balls Against MS Dhoni In RR vs CSK Clash

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EXCLUSIVE: Sandeep Sharma Recalls Defending 7 Off 3 Balls Against MS Dhoni In RR vs CSK Clash


In December final yr, India pacer Sandeep Sharma was left disheartened after not one of the 10 groups bid for him on the public sale. His good good friend Karanveer Singh suggested him to maintain working onerous and look ahead to the subsequent alternative. And it got here quickly. Rajasthan Royals (RR) named him as substitute for injured quick bowler Prasidh Krishna. Cut to nighttime of April 12 in Chennai, Sandeep was bowling to MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja on this high-pressured IPL 2023 conflict. He was requested to defend 21 off final 6 balls, in entrance of a packed Chennai crowd, who had been cheering their ‘Thala’ Dhoni. This was like strolling on hearth. But Sandeep sensed an opportuinity to rise and shine. 

Wide, Dot, Six, Six. The subsequent 3 balls had been straight out of nightmare. Dhoni, at 41, reminded everybody he had not forgotten about ending video games. Sandeep walked again to the runup to bowl the fourth ball of this decisive over. Sanju Samson, RR captain, raced from wicketkeeper spot to the bowler. With simply 7 required off 3, and Dhoni, the GOAT finisher at strike, it regarded like CSK would attain residence. But Sandeep had not given up but. He was not presupposed to play IPL this yr. He was not going to let this opportunity go. In the primary match, Sandeep was fearing leaking 21 off the final over. This was a mauka he wished for. He saved all self-doubts in a nook and commenced to belief once more.  

How Sanju Samson’s calm head helped Sandeep

The calm Sanju, Sandeep says, helped him regain his confidence. Speaking to Zee News English over the cellphone, Sandeep recalled the final 3 balls, underlining the significance of Sanju’s captaincy in that powerful second.

“After I was hit for two sixes in the last over, Sanju and I discussed about the plans on how to bowl the next 3 balls. Sanju is very calm as captain. He did not give any suggestion to me. He simply asked me about my plans for the next ball. I told him about my instincts and he backed me to bowl that. This quality is very rare in a captain in such pressure situation,” mentioned the RR pacer.

Sandeep added that Sanju gave him freedom to bowl no matter he needed to bowl even after getting smashed for 2 again to again sixes. “I have played under many captains and only a few can take such brave calls. Generally captains look to talk a lot, pass on many ideas and suggestions. The way Sanju handled the situation helped me a lot in that moment,” recalled Sandeep.

The fourth ball to Dhoni; 7 wanted off 3

Sandeep knew that Dhoni had positioned himself for a yorker now. He was deep within the crease, eyeing the identical mid-wicket to long-on area. The pacer determined to vary his size and angle. (*3*) Sandeep mentioned. 

The fifth ball to Jadeja; 6 wanted off 2

Jadeja was again in crease. He had hit Jason Holder for 2 sixes within the earlier over, one over advantageous leg and the opposite straight down the bottom. Sandeep didn’t wish to repeat the errors of Holder on this over. “Jaddu bhai had hit Holder in the previous over straight down the ground as the ball was bowled at the stumps. I decided to bowl it outside off from over the wicket, bowl at the seventh stump line so that ball is out of his reach. And it worked,” mentioned Sandeep. 

The sixth and decisive ball to Dhoni; 5 wanted off 1

With CSK one huge hit away and Dhoni on strike, it appeared Dhoni was going to get the job performed. He had performed it so many instances prior to now that even a tough process of hitting six off the final ball appeared a really seemingly taking place with Dhoni on strike. Sandeep needed to strive his finest ball on this final, decisive supply. His yorker. 

“On the sixth ball, I went round the wicket to Mahi bhai and this time I backed my yorker, on which I have been working for a long time. I felt that even I am going to get hit for six, let it be this ball on which I have more control after having worked on it over a period of time. This was my best ball and it turned out to be perfect yorker luckily,” Sandeep concluded. 

There was a finisher at Chepauk on that night time. Just that the identify was not Dhoni. It was Sandeep Sharma. The pacer, who was ignored within the bidding room, had made an announcement that he’s not completed but in IPL.





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