Rajasthan Royals (RR) veteran fast bowler Sandeep Sharma registered his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) five-wicket haul and restricted Mumbai Indians (MI) for 179/9. Sandeep was exceptional with the new ball and the old. He conceded 18 runs and picked up five wickets and won the ‘Player of the Match’ award as RR won the game by nine wicket son the back of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s second IPL ton. After the match, Sandeep said that he is just enjoying every game as he went unsold in the auction two years ago. He also had an advice for bowlers struggling in the slog overs.
“Got fit day before yesterday only. First game after fitness, feeling good. Pitch was on slower side and lower side, so my plan was to keep bowling variations and cutters. If you're bowling in the end, you have to have big heart. Have seen in the IPL, bowlers are under the pump. Need to have big heart and keep executing plans. As you know, I went unsold two years ago. Came in as a replacement. So I'm enjoying every game,” he said in the post-match presentation.
Sandeep became the first Indian pacer to take a five-wicket haul for RR. His bowling figures are third-best for the franchise.
Sandeep strikes early
He replaced Kuldeep Sen in the side for the home clash against MI. In his first over, he dismissed Ishan Kishan for a three-ball duck. He wrecked MI's top order and got Suryakumar Yadav caught inside the circle.
Sandeep’s lethal last over
In the final over, he took the pace of the ball. Tilak Varma who scored 65 runs got caught at long-on Rovman Powell. Next ball, Gerald Coetzee went for the aerial route as well. He got caught by Powell as well. On the penultimate over of the innings, Tim David struck the ball well but found Riyan Parag just inside the boundary. He conceded just three runs in the final over of the innings.
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