Hayden Walsh lived up to his reputation by impressing in the second T20I between India and West Indies on Sunday. The leg-spinner arrived in India with a big reputation after a stunning season in the Caribbean Premier League that also helped him break into the national side. Despite playing just nine matches, he claimed 22 wickets at an economy rate of 8.28. He had gone on to scoop the MVP of the tournament award too.
On Sunday, he made his mark once again by picking up two crucial wickets that halted India’s charge towards a big total. With Shivam Dube going tongs and hammer with the bat, Walsh dismissed him to bring his side back into the game. He then accounted for Shreyas Iyer too to make sure India do not finish strongly in the game.
The hosts eventually ended on a decent 170 for 7 in the stipulated 20 overs with Dube’s 30-ball 54 being the highest score. In reply, West Indies’ rode on Lendl Simmons’ unbeaten 67 and Nicholas Pooran’s 18-ball 38* to chase down the total with eight balls remaining.
Courtney Walsh not my father:
As Hayden Walsh was impressing with his exploits on the field on Sunday, the fans were busy asking on social media whether he is the son of West Indian great Courtney Walsh. Well, the question reached him while he was addressing the media after the game and he duly answered it. The 27-year old made it clear that he is not the son of the former West Indies captain despite having the same surname.
“I was playing in the Canada T20 league and someone called me Courtney Walsh (laughs). So yeah…People my father is not Courtney Walsh. But I guess now they will now find out who I am and who is my father,” Walsh said.
He further spoke about his journey in the game so far and compared it with a rollercoaster ride.
“Yeah, it has been like a roller-coaster ride for me. As you can see, I have been working hard trying to find my way to the top into international cricket. Just to be here and perform in a game is just. I am over the moon,” he said.
With one more match remaining in the series, Walsh will be looking to impress further. With the IPL auction just around the corner, a fine performance could very well land him a lucrative IPL deal.