Mumbai, Mar 27: Leg-spinner Rahul Sharma claimed two wickets in Punjab’s win over Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali semi-final here today. The leg-spinner spoke to the media about his bowling, and the Punjab team, ahead of the title clash against Baroda at the Brabourne Stadium on March 27.
Excerpts from the media interaction:
On the semi-final
The wicket was good for batting but the total was low because we bowled well. Bowling is our strength. All four bowlers are good and also we have the experienced Harbhajan Singh leading us.
On the final against Baroda
They have been performing well [...] We have also been doing well and winning. Whoever performs better will win.
On his role in the team
When senior players are playing in the team, there is a lot of responsibility on them [to perform]. My role is to do as well as I can in my four overs and concede as few runs as possible. [Manpreet] Gony is also bowling well and so is VRV Singh who has made a comeback into the team. And Bhajji bhai [Harbhajan Singh] always performs well, so we have a very good team combination. He is a very aggressive captain. I like captains who are aggressive and boost the team [....]
On winning
T20 is a kind of game where on the day whoever performs well wins. We have a young team with a good combination. We played well today and fielded well so we got a good result.
On the lessons from the Australian tour
I have learnt a lot of things. There are senior players Sachin [Tendulkar] bhai, [MS] Dhoni bhai, Viru bhai [Virender Sehwag] – they help a lot in [developing my] bowling [....]. I have learnt a lot of things like the maturity required to win matches [in tight situations]. I want to become a bowler [who can win matches in tough situations].
On whether he was disappointed he couldn’t play many matches on India’s tour of Australia and on picking up an injury as well
The tour was very important for me. I had worked hard for it. I was a bit unlucky that I got injured and didn’t get many opportunities but I did the best I could.
On the difference in the crowd support between the IPL and the current T20 tournament
IPL has a lot of international players and this has more domestic players, but the kind of practice we can [get] in domestic [cricket] we can’t get anywhere else. [...] I want to perform to the best of my abilities here.
On Yuvraj Singh
I have been talking to Yuvi paaji on and off. Where I am today in the India team is because of him. I hope he gets well soon and returns to the Indian team. [....] He will take time but whenever he plays it will be good for us.
On his bowling
My line, length and my accuracy is my plus point. I enjoy bowling on all pitches. [....] I am thankful to God that I am successful. I am working hard and hope to continue doing so.
On whether this win was more satisfying given Punjab had lost to Mumbai in the Ranji knockouts
Winning and losing is part of the game. Our role is to play well and do the best we can. No team is small or big; you have to play well and win.
