The Indian cricket team returns to action on Thursday, June 9, when they take on South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi for their first of five T20I outings against the Proteas. Both sides have been working hard in the training ground in order to win the opening fixture of the series to get a leg up over their opponents
Ahead of the series, the Proteas decided to experiment in their training sessions by using 14-year-old Raunak Waghella in the nets to deal with deadly Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. The youngster was at his best form as well, upsetting players from either team and also receiving praise for his bowling. In an exclusive interview with Sports Tak, he opened up about his experience, including dismissing Tabraiz Shamsi thrice as well.
"It was a nice experience. I also learned a lot. I would like to use this on the ground now. I learned bowling and fielding skills from them. Aiden Markram of South Africa, Temba Bavuma, And Tabraiz Shamsi all got out to my bowling. I even got Shamsi out three to four times," Raunak told Sports Tak.
The South Africans were not the only players to face Raunak as the Indians also gave it a go against the young gun. "I bowled to Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer as well. Pant said to keep up and keep working hard. You are bowling well and you will do well if you keep bowling like this," Raunak said.
The young spinner will now hope to use the experience and the knowledge gained from rubbing shoulders with some of cricket's finest players when he plays for his respective teams. Sharing his cricketing history, the youngster said, I started from Venkatesh Cricket Academy from at 2012 and have been playing since then. And since then I have been advancing in spin bowling."
Schedule of T20I series:
First T20: June 9, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Second T20: June 12, Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
Third T20: June 14, VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
Fourth T20: June 17, Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
Fifth T20: June 19, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
