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Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan's life changed entirely as he dismissed Virat Kohli on his return to Ranji Trophy after more than 12 years. Sangwan sent the offstump for a walk and led to an exodus of Kohli fans from Arun Jaitley Stadium. Days after the dismissal, Sangwan revealed that everyone believed that he would get Kohli out. Considering Kohli's troubles outside off-stump of late, the team's bus driver told him to bowl at the fourth-fifth stump line to the 36-year-old.
"Before the match, there were talks about Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant going to play for Delhi. At the time, we didn't know that the match would be aired live. We slowly learned that Rishabh Pant wouldn't play, but Virat would, and the match would be streamed live. I am leading the Railways' pace attack. Every team member told me that they thought I would dismiss Virat Kohli," Sangwan told HT.
"The bus in which we were travelling, even the bus driver told me that you know that you need to bowl at the fourth-fifth stump line to Virat Kohli, and then he will get out. I had self-belief. I just wanted to focus on my own strengths rather than someone else's weaknesses. I bowled to my strengths and ended up getting the wicket," he added.
Sangwan's meeting with Kohli in dressing room
The senior India batting pro lauded Sangwan for bowling him through the gap between bat and pad. However, Sangwan said that he did not formulate a specific plan for the former India captain. He also recalled his meeting with Kohli in the dressing room.
"There was no specific plan for Virat Kohli in general. The coaches told us that the players from Delhi like to play attacking cricket. They are all stroke players. We were told to bowl a disciplined line," said the 29-year-old.
"When our innings ended, I was going to the dressing room and Virat Kohli was coming to the field. Ayush Badoni and Virat were there. Virat Bhaiya himself shook hands with me and said, 'Very well bowled'. He told me that I was bowling well. I then told him I wanted to take a picture with him during the lunch break. I went to Delhi's dressing room. I took the same ball with which I got him out. He even asked me whether it was the same ball. He then said jokingly, 'Oh teri ki. Maza aa gaya tujhe toh'," he further added.
Sangwan ended the season as Railways' second-highest wicket-taker. He claimed 18 wickets from seven games at an average of 24.27 including a five-wicket haul.
