Rajasthan Royals' star pacer Sandeep Sharma's IPL career initially mirrored a classic rags-to-riches story. Between 2013 and 2015 while playing for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab), he picked up a commendable 39 wickets. This impressive performance earned him a well-deserved call-up to the Indian national team for two T20Is against Zimbabwe. However, this dream debut turned sour as Sandeep Sharma struggled to control the run flow, failing to meet expectations. Unfortunately, his journey with the national team was short-lived. He was dropped and then plagued by injuries for nearly two years, putting his career on hold. After his return, Sandeep displayed a newfound maturity and tactical prowess in his bowling. Yet, despite his growth, a return to the national team remained elusive.
Recently, whispers about Sandeep's potential inclusion in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad began to circulate amongst experts and veterans. This speculation arose due to concerns over the performance of other fast bowlers expected to partner Jasprit Bumrah. Sandeep's consistency in the powerplay overs, coupled with his improved handling of the old ball in the slog overs, made him a tempting option. However, despite these compelling arguments, Sandeep was once again overlooked by the selectors.
Sunil Gavaskar lavishes praise for Sandeep Sharma
Sandeep Sharma's impressive bowling was on display once again, this time in the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He showcased his talent with a clever slower bouncer that dismissed SRH's explosive opener Travis Head which caught batting great Sunil Gavaskar's attention. Gavaskar was full of praise for the RR star during the commentary. However, Gavaskar's commentary went beyond simply applauding the wicket. He took the opportunity to highlight Sandeep's economical bowling, mentioning that he only conceded 19 runs in his first three overs. More importantly, Gavaskar used this performance as a platform to address the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors.
He expressed his concern that amidst the hype surrounding young, express-pace bowlers, experienced and skillful fast bowlers like the 31-year-old Sandeep often get overlooked. Gavaskar's comments suggest he believes Sandeep deserves more consideration from the national selectors.
“Whenever someone bowls over 140kmph, we begin salivating, but no one talks about him as an India prospect. Look at the slower bowls, it shows cleverness,” Gavaskar said.
Sandeep's impressive run
Sandeep Sharma has certainly made a case for himself this IPL season. Bowling for RR, he's picked up an impressive 11 wickets in just 10 matches, even boasting a five-wicket haul, which came against Mumbai Indians (MI). However, despite Sunil Gavaskar's call for the BCCI to consider Sandeep.
Sandeep bowled an exceptional spell of 2/25 and took prized wickets of Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen to restritct SRH to 175/9.
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