“Shardul Thakur recommended my name to the management”- Prashant Solanki reveals how he got into CSK
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Shardul Thakur and Prashant Solanki
Prashant Solanki, one of the fresh few faces that Chennai Super Kings were able to acquire in 2022. The leg-spinner had an impreesive season in a couple of games that he played, even though, it wasn’t a good year for the four-time champions.
The leggie has played for Mumbai in nine List A game and picked up 21 wickets. He also helped his team win the 2021 Vijay Hazare Trophy. After his staggering performane, his Mumbai teammate and then CSK pacer Shardul Thakur immediately recommended his name to the CSK management as a net bowlers for the second half of the IPL 2021 which was then yet to begin in the UAE.
Prashant Solanki revealed how he ended up playing for CSK in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda. He said:
“That year Shardul Bhai was playing with CSK. He came for a couple of Vijay Hazare matches. He saw me bowl and recommended my name to the CSK management. After a month or so, the second leg of IPL was going to start in Dubai (UAE). So for that I was contacted by the video analyst of CSK. He asked me whether I would like to come in as a net bowler and I instantly said yes.”
Prashant Solanki as a net bowler
CSK then groomed this net-bowler like they do with other youngsters to get them ready for the big stage. Also, it must be more special for the 22-year-old as CSK ended up winning the trophy in 2021.
“We were not allowed to go to the dressing room as we were net bowlers. But we used to go to watch matches in Dubai. The atmosphere was same as this year, the players were very chilled. We went a month earlier than other teams. We had many open nets and match simulations so the players were ready to cash in.”
Solanki signed off after further mentioning that although CSK had a bad season this year, the team were good but just some key players had got injured. Also, he believes that there were few positives for the team too because of the variety in their bowling attack. CSK had their own ‘Baby Malinga’ Matheesha Pathirana and Mukesh Chaudhary. Also when Deepak Chahar becomes fit, then CSK would be a having a big next year.
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Gouri Das
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