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Tamil Nadu’s Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore bagged the first hat-trick of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 on November 6. Sai Kishore got the hat-trick in the last over of Puducherry’s innings as the batters looked for big hits in an attempt to push the score past 140. Picked in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction for Rs 20 lakh by Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the left-arm spinner is yet to make his debut in the cash-rich league.
Asked to bowl the last over by skipper N Jagadeesan, Kishore used his lengths well and did not let the batters enough elevation or power to hit it over the boundary.
The first wicket was of set batter Fabid Ahmed who had already hit two sixes in his innings. As Ahmed stepped down the track, Kishore dragged the length back and bowled it wide of him. The right-handed batter hit it straight but away from his body and ended up getting caught at wide long-on by T Natarajan.
Kishore came round the wicket to the left-handed batter Iqlas Naha as well. This time he pitched it up and bowled straight. Naha went for a big hit but found the long on fielder Natarajan.
On hat-trick, Kishore pulled the length back again and bowled it away as Suboth Bhati tried to set himself for a slog sweep. The stock delivery took the top edge and wicketkeeper Jagadeesan caught the ball easily on the pitch.
The three wickets in the final over helped Tamil Nadu restrict Puducherry for 129/8. The below par total was easily chased down with 23 balls to spare as opener Hari Nishanth remained unbeaten for 75 off 49 deliveries including two fours and six sixes.
IPL debut in 2022?
Kishore has had a good record in Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) but has not get a chance in four-time IPL champions CSK. The sole reason can be the presence of Ravindra Jadeja in the side. Even Mitchell Santner did not get a single game in the recently-concluded season. With the mega auction coming up and two new teams bidding, it will be interesting to see if the 25-year-old starts a bidding war and gets to make his IPL debut.
