IPL 2021: Lukman Meriwala Reveals His Daughter’s Voice Note Before His Debut IPL Match For Delhi Capitals
Updated - 20 Apr 2021, 01:33 PM
Baroda pacer, Lukman Meriwala made his IPL debut for the Delhi Capitals on Sunday against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede. The 29-year-old was handed his maiden cap by South African and Capitals spearhead bowler, Kagiso Rabada.
Lukman Meriwala is coming off a fantastic domestic season – he was the second-highest wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 15 wickets at an average of 13.26.
The Capitals won the game and the left-arm seamer returned with figures of 1/32; Lukman Meriwala took the important wicket of Mayank Agarwal, who scored 69 runs off 36 balls breaking the century opening stand between Agarwal and KL Rahul.
After the game, he revealed a sweet message which his daughter had sent him ahead of his debut asking him if he would feature in the game.
“Yes, they will be very happy. My daughter sent a voice note to me asking “Papa, will you be playing today?” I’m happy that I got to tell her that I played the match today and we won the match as well,” an almost teary-eyed Lukman Meriwala said in a video uploaded by the franchise.
?️ From his daughter's voice note to his first IPL wicket, the last 24 hours will never be the same for Lukman Meriwala ??#YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2021 #DCvPBKS #CapitalsUnplugged @OctaFX @tajmahalmumbai pic.twitter.com/O0tUGIPkR7
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 19, 2021
Rishabh Pant told me to do whatever I have done for Baroda and not think it’s an IPL game: Lukman Meriwala
Lukman Meriwala bowled the second over of the game, following the opening over from Chris Woakes. He also revealed the advice from Rishabh Pant, the Capitals’ skipper for this season in absence of the injured Shreyas Iyer.
“Rishabh signaled to me after Woakes bowling his first two deliveries and told me you’ll bowl the next over. I started warming up and started thinking of what to bowl.
“He came and gave me the ball and told me to do whatever I have done for Baroda before in the domestic circuit. He told me not to think about the batsman or whatever it’s an IPL game, just told me to bowl the same way and move ahead from here,” Lukman Meriwala added.
The debutant didn’t have an ideal start as he conceded 20 runs off his first over, where Steve Smith dropped KL Rahul. But Pant kept faith in Meriwala and continued him in the 4th over where he fared much better giving 8 runs. He returned in the 13th to dismiss Agarwal and closed out a brilliant over with just 4 runs.
With 2 wins in 3 games, the Capitals sits at the third spot on the points table; they have completed their Mumbai leg and will move to Chennai to take on Mumbai Indians on Tuesday.
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Lukman Meriwala Punjab Kings (PBKS) Rishabh Pant
