Sandeep Sharma happy to deliver dream performance after Preity Zinta gives him tickets for family
May 6, 2017
Kings XI Punjab fast bowler Sandeep Sharma on Friday achieved a rare feat when he became the first bowler to dismiss Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in the same match.
The Punjab outfit produced an excellent bowling performance to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 19 runs in their IPL tie in Bengaluru.
Defending a low total of 138 runs, Punjab dismissed the star-studded RCB batting line-up for 119 runs in 19 overs. It was the fourth time when RCB were bowled out in this year’s IPL.
Sandeep (3/22 in 4 overs) played a big role blowing away the top-order to set up the win.
The 23-year-old gave an exhibition of controlled swing bowling to get the “Big Three” Gayle (0), Kohli (6) and De Villiers (10) quickly.
Gayle got one that swung away as he slashed it straight to point. Kohli gave the charge to a delivery that swung back into knock the leg stump back.
De Villiers pulled Sandeep to the mid-wicket stands but bowled a full outswinger which was edged to Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps.
Soon after the match, Sandeep revealed that he had actually thought about taking the wickets of Gayle, Kohli and De Villiers before the game.
“Felt very good after taking three wickets and winning the man-of-the-match. I was thinking before the match that if I could get Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli out, it will be so amazing. Everybody will talk about it. So whatever I was thinking, it came out to be true and I am very for that,” Sandeep said in an interview to iplt20.com.
Lauding Sandeep for his magnificent feat, Kings XI Punjab co-owner and Bollywood actor Preity Zinta said the fast bowler had promised taking four wickets in the match in lieu of tickets for his family.
“Sandeep asked me for tickets before the game and I told him that there were no tickets available. But he needed the tickets for his family at the last minute. I asked him what will you give me? So, he said four wickets… but its okay he bagged three,” Zinta, who was also present in the interview, said.
Meanwhile, Axar Patel, who turned the match on its head with his all-round effort, said mentor Virender Sehwag’s advice during the strategic Time Out proved to be decisive for the team.
First, Axar smashed his way to an unbeaten 38 off 17 balls as KXIP managed 138/7 and then grabbed 3/11 in in 3 overs with RCB skittled out for 119 in 19 overs.
“During the Time Out in the 16th over of our innings, Viru Sir (Virender Sehwag) told me to stay at the crease till the end because if we have a batsman till the 20th over, it will be good for the team. The wicket was behaving so we knew that even 140 would not be easy to chase. I was just thinking to take the team to 140 and it happened. At the end we won and that’s what really matters,” Axar said.
