The Hype Around Fast Bowlers in IPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 saw Lucknow Super Giants’ Mayank Yadav become a sensation due to his incredible speed, regularly bowling over 150kmph. This excitement mirrored the previous hype around Umran Malik, who once broke fast bowling records in the IPL. However, both bowlers faced setbacks—Mayank Yadav struggled after an injury, and Umran Malik remained in the shadows this season. Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that Indian cricket often gets overly excited about fast bowlers without considering their overall skill and consistency.
Sandeep Sharma’s Impressive Comeback
Amidst the spotlight on young speedsters, Rajasthan Royals’ Sandeep Sharma made a remarkable return. Initially unsold in the auction, he joined the team as a replacement for injured Prasidh Krishna. Despite this rocky start, Sharma shone brightly, taking a five-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians and accumulating 13 wickets with an economy rate of 8.18. In the crucial Qualifier 2 against SunRisers Hyderabad, he delivered impressive figures of 2/25 in four overs, claiming the wickets of top-scorer Heinrich Klaasen and opener Travis Head.
Sunil Gavaskar’s Praise for Sandeep Sharma
Sunil Gavaskar was vocal about the misplaced hype around express pace in Indian cricket, contrasting it with Sandeep Sharma’s consistent performances. Gavaskar highlighted that while Indian fans get excited about bowlers who can bowl over 145kmph, it’s the clever and consistent bowlers like Sandeep Sharma who truly make a difference. Despite his impressive record in the IPL, Sharma has not been given a consistent chance in the national team. Reflecting on this, Sharma expressed a sense of underappreciation but remains focused on his game, acknowledging that some things are beyond his control as he nears the age of 31.
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