Ben Stokes Told Me About His Final Over In T20 World Cup Against Carlos Brathwaite: Chetan Sakariya Recalls How England All-Rounder Helped Him In Pressure Situation

Indian pace bowler Chetan Sakariya recalled his IPL debut against Punjab Kings last year and revealed his conversation with England all-rounder Ben Stokes. Sakariya was one of the emerging players that got the spotlight in IPL 2021.

The 24-year-old suffered the loss of his brother and father in the span of four months and in between the Saurashtra pacer also made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals on April 12, 2021, at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.

Chetan Sakariya registered 3/31 on his IPL debut against Punjab Kings

Sakariya picked the wickets of Punjab openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal as he finished his spell with the figures of 3/31. The youngster had conceded just 11 runs from his first two overs and got the wicket of Agarwal in the Powerplay overs.

I remember a brief conversation with Ben Stokes in my debut game: Chetan Sakriya

During the slog overs, Sakariya got smashed for boundaries by Deepak Hooda and he bowled a no-ball as well after the pressure mounted his head. However, Stokes straight away went to the rookie and helped him calm his nerves.

Stokes cited the example of his final over in the 2016 T20 World Cup final where he was smashed for four sixes in a row by West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite.

“Well, your first season is full of lessons and memories. I remember a brief conversation with Ben Stokes in my debut game which really boosted my confidence. Playing against Punjab, I bowled a good over in the powerplay, which was also my first-ever over in the IPL,” Sakariya told Cricket.com.

“But I botched up in my third over in which I bowled both good as well as bad balls, including a no-ball. I overstepped at a time when the game was already slipping away from our hands and we couldn’t afford to leak extra runs.

“That was when Ben stokes walked up to me from the long on which is where he usually fields. He told me that I had done no crime by bowling a no-ball and that every bowler oversteps once in a while.

“He also reminded me of the 20 runs he conceded in the last over of the T20 World Cup final to emphasize that not all deliveries necessarily have to be good ones. That is one conversation I fondly recall,” he added.

Sakariya snapped 14 wickets from as many matches in his debut season in IPL, he was purchased by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2022 auction for a sum of INR 4.20 crore.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Picking MS Dhoni’s Wicket Is The Best Moment For Me From IPL 2021, Virat Kohli Is The One I’d Like To Dismiss In IPL 2022 – Chetan Sakariya