“Bowl dot balls as that creates pressure in T20s”- Prashanth Solanki reveals MS Dhoni’s valuable advice that helped him bag maiden IPL wicket
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MS Dhoni and Prashanth Solanki
Chennai Super Kings had roped the leg-spinner Prashant Solanki in the second half of IPL 2021 which was played in UAE. Prashanth Solanki has revealed how he ended up playing for CSK that year. Shardul Thakur had played with him for Mumbai in Vijay Hazare Trophy which the team had clinched that year. Thakur had reccomended his name to the team management as a net bowler. As CSK is known for grooming the youngsters, the management believed that Solanki had enough talent to get picked in the playing XI.
That’s why Prashanth Solanki was purchased for INR 1.2 crore by the franchise. MS Dhoni’s advice from behind the stumps while wicket-keeping has always been helpful and it’s a dream for the bowlers, especially for a spinner to hear the legendary cricketer’s advise while delivering because it helps them improve them a lot as spinners. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have been vocal about how MS Dhoni has helped them in their bowling. And Prashanth Solanki also believes the same and had the similar experience in his debut season. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, the 22-year-old said:
“Mahi bhai keeps things very simple. Whether you’re bowling leg-spin, googly or top-spin, if you’re not giving runs, you are bowling well. He had given us instructions that we have to bowl dot balls because that’s what creates pressure in T20 cricket.”
MS Dhoni’s advice helped Prashanth Solanki to scalp his maiden wicket
He picked up a couple of crucial wickets against Rajasthan Royals after he went wicketless on his debut season. When RR’s Yashasvi Jaiswal was smashing sixes, pressure was building on Solanki. Solanki revealed how MS Dhoni, from behind the stumps, had suggested to pull his length back and bowl shorter ball and that’s helped the youngster bag his maiden wicket. The dangerous West Indian batsman Shimron Hetmyer was dismissed after a suggestion from MS Dhoni.
“In the second game, I came in to bowl a bit late because we didn’t have a big total and he was shuffling the bowlers around. I was hit for a six off my first ball. Then he (Dhoni) gave me an indication that I have to pull my length back and keep it a little shorter. Let him play strokes on the bigger end. Then I was successful.”
“He (Hetmyer) hit me for a boundary and then Mahi bhai indicated me once again to use the bigger side of the ground. I bowled the top spinner on his legs and he miscued it and was out on deep mid-wicket.”
Also Read | “Shardul Thakur recommended my name to the management”- Prashant Solanki reveals how he got into CSK
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Gouri Das
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