Sandeep Sharma talks about his thinking while bowling to MS Dhoni in the final over during CSK vs RR clash

When the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, Sanju Samson tossed Sandeep Sharma the ball with 21 needed off the final over against CSK, he looked packed with nerves of steel. Sandeep was more concerned with MS Dhoni’s presence at the end closest to the striker than the number of runs, as any bowler would be. 

Sandeep, who has experience bowling in the IPL’s final overs, began by attempting a slower bouncer that was wide. Captain Samson approached him and spoke a few soothing words to him. The following delivery was wide outside along the leg side. Sandeep had possibly one of the most challenging overs of his career off from the worst possible start.

He had reduced CSK’s total by two crucial runs before bowling a single legal delivery. Sandeep rushed in and produced the ideal yorker as the Chepauk fans clapped their hands and shouted their hearts out for Dhoni. After a few wide balls, Sandeep came back strongly, almost warning Dhoni that the task won’t be simple. However, the turns had only just begun. Sandeep attempted to deliver the beck length again in his second ball but came up just short. Dhoni flicked it past fine leg for an inviting six with the help of his very powerful wrists.

Sandeep Sharma spoke to the media after the match and said, “I backed my strength of executing the yorkers. I have been bowling the yorkers well in the nets. One side of the ground was bigger so I decided to bowl a yorker on the heels (of MS Dhoni) but it turned out to be low full tosses and both were hit for sixes. After that, I changed my plan and went around the wicket to change the angle and it’s great it gave me a different result.”

The medium-pace bowler then spoke about how he bowled to Ravindra Jadeja and his thinking behind it. He said, “I bowled over the wicket to Jaddu bhai (Jadeja). The idea was to pitch it out of his reach. He had hit two sixes off Jason Holder. So I thought of getting the ball away from his reach.”