IPL 2018: Sandeep Sharma Dictates the Terms After Reading Home Pitch Early

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) seamer, Sandeep Sharma revealed his role in the team as hosts beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 13 runs in a low scoring encounter at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Hyderabad as a unit is eventually becoming the master in defending low totals in this eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Meanwhile, Sandeep says that the calm demeanour of captain Kane Williamson is a big reason behind it.

Batting first, Hyderabad once again struggled because of their top-order. The openers have failed to provide good starts which have kept the Hyderabad dugout thinking.

However, an important partnership between Manish Pandey (54) and Shakib Al Hasan (28) steadied the ship for the Sunrisers.

Moreover, some late contribution from Yusuf Pathan (21) ensured the bowlers had something to bowl at.

Meanwhile, the visitors had a great start banking on KL Rahul and Chris Gayle. They cruised to fifty in eight overs before Rahul (32) departed.

Since then, it has been a landslide for the Ravichandran Ashwin–led side.

Rashid Khan led the sweeping as he returned with three for 19 in his quota of four overs.

Sandeep was also outstanding with the new ball returning with the figures of two for 17 in his four overs.

Williamson has a very good influence:

The pace from Punjab Sandeep credited his skipper for two back-to-back wins while defending low scores. He also revealed many stories how Williamson tries to keep everybody possitive.

“Kane Williamson has been a very good influence. He is very calm. When you see him at the ground, he is always positive. Whenever we score low totals, he says to forget that. He asks us to focus on our bowling and taking wickets. If the leader is calm under such a situation, it increases our confidence,” Sandeep said.

Moreover, Sandeep hails the team effort for successfully defending the target. He also added that all the bowlers are executing their roles perfectly and as a result, they are getting the desired results.

“There was no turning point as such. If it is a low total, every bowler needs to perform. We bowled well collectively. All of us are executing our respective roles. Because of that, we have been able to defend low totals. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is currently injured, when he comes back we will be even stronger,” he added.

My role is beyond taking wickets:

Speaking about his role in the team, Sandeep Sharma noted that it goes far beyond from just picking wickets. He also admitted that he help others by telling them the nature of the pitch.

“I generally start with the new ball. So I am in a better position to tell my teammates about the way the pitch is behaving. Today too I was telling them that the pitch is holding a little bit. So, slower balls will be effective rather than seam up deliveries. If you see the wicket of Chris Gayle by Basil Thampi, he also got out on a slower bouncer,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad next takes on Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur on April 29.

Also Read: IPL 2018: Captaincy Has Changed My Approach – Dinesh Karthik