Tabraiz Shamsi Reveals Bowling To MS Dhoni In IPL Helped Grow His Self-Belief
Tabraiz Shamsi celebrates. (Credits: Twitter)

South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has opened up on his experience of bowling to former Indian captain MS Dhoni. Like several other cricketers, for Tabraiz Shamsi as well, the IPL was a gateway to international recognition. The likes of Shane Watson, Yusuf Pathan, Jasprit Bumrah have also gained attention due to their promising show in the cash-rich league.

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It was in the 2016 edition that Tabraiz Shamsi made his maiden IPL appearance for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Pune. And it was against the Rising Pune Supergiants, lead by MS Dhoni. Shamsi came in that season as a replacement player for Samuel Badree and revealed that bowling to MS Dhoni grew his confidence and self-belief.

MS Dhoni Deepak Chahar IPL
MS Dhoni. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

The 30-year old remember the special moment when the chance to bowling against MS Dhoni came along. Shamsi stated his opportunity to bowl to one of the best finishers of the game came at the backend of the game. The left-arm spinner played only in that one edition, featuring in four matches.

I got picked up in RCB as a replacement player. Team management saw me bowling well in the warm-ups and they picked me for a game. I remember bowling to MS Dhoni towards the backend of the game. I remember this moment clearly because it’s special for me. He’s probably the best finisher the game has ever seen,” the Johannesburg-born told Jarrod Kimber in the Red Inker Podcast.

I am here, I am doing well against the best finisher of the game: Tabraiz Shamsi

Tabraiz Shamsi
Tabraiz Shamsi. (Credits: Twitter)

The leg-spinner went on to state that performing well against MS Dhoni was also an opportunity to shut down the critics, who thought of him being not good enough. And bowling to the 38-year -old helped his confidence grew and the thought process changed completely.

I was handling well and kept him under control. All the people who doubted me and made me feel like I’m not good enough, they can go and catch a hike, because I am here, I am doing well against the best finisher of the game. That’s how my self belief grew. From that moment my mindset changed completely, I don’t need to listen to people who think to bring me down,” Tabraiz Shamsi said.

Bangalore won that game by 13 runs after scoring 185 in their stipulated 20 overs. Tabraiz Shamsi removed Ajinkya Rahane for 60 while MS Dhoni scored 41; however, it was not enough to prevent the defeat.

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In four overs, he ended with figures of 1/36. At present, with Imran Tahir retired from ODI cricket, Shamsi is slowly becoming the Proteas’ frontline spinner in limited-overs cricket.

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