One of the biggest storylines of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season was the return of Mohit Sharma from the wilderness. After being ignored by the franchises for the last three years, the right-arm pacer was picked by Gujarat Titans and he returned the faith by delivering one of the best comeback performances in the cash-rich tournament's history. In a bowling attack comprising Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan, Mohit carved his own niche and became indispensable.
The right-arm medium pacer outfoxed the opposition batters with his variations and stifling yorkers. He finished the tournament as the second-highest wicket-taker after bagging 27 wickets in 14 matches at a phenomenal average of 13.37. In the IPL final too, Mohit bowled well and bagged three wickets. Yet, the last two balls that he bowled are still haunting him.
The Titans had to defend 13 runs off the final with one of their best bowlers of the season Mohit Sharma tasked to do the job under pressure. For a brief period of time, it appeared that the right-arm pacer would do an impeccable job and roll out a win for his franchise but Jadeja had other plans. Mohit was dispatched for a six and a four after nailing four consecutive yorkers and conceding just three runs in the first four balls.
"My mind was very clear in what I wanted to do. In the nets, I had practiced such situations and I have been in such scenarios before too. So I said let me bowl all balls yorkers and was backing my instinct," Mohit told The Indian Express.
“I ran and tried to bowl (yorker) again. I just wanted to be focussed and back myself. Whole IPL I have done that. The ball landed where it shouldn’t have and Jadeja got his bat. I tried, I tried my best.
"I couldn’t sleep. Sochta raha kya alag karta joh match jeet jaate. What if I could have bowled this ball or that ball? It’s not a nice feeling now. Somewhere something is missing but I’m trying to move on," he added.
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