Worked on my length control after last IPL season: Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi believes a year of hard work, self-introspection and fine-tuning his lengths has helped him grab an unexpected opportunity and revive his T20 World Cup hopes after being out of the Indian reckoning. He went on to reflecting on the last year and what he worked upon after poor returns in the IPL where he managed just nine wickets from 11 matches at an average of over 44.
The poor returns hurt the Sanjiv Goenka-owned side as they missed the playoffs, finishing seventh in the standings. He was subsequently released by the franchise but found a fresh start when Rajasthan Royals snapped him up for `7.20 crore at this year’s auction.
“The work I have done in the last one year was on my lengths because I didn’t do so well in the IPL last season. I didn’t have much control over my lengths and my lines in the last season. That’s why it was tough for me in the last season,” he admitted. “But I tried my best to bowl in the 5-6 metres length on the stumps as it is difficult to hit from those lengths... so, I tried my best.”
The 25-year-old wrist leg-spinner, who last played for India against England in February last year, was not originally in the scheme of things for the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. He was drafted into the squad only after a side strain to spin all-rounder Washington Sundar earlier this month. With Washington racing against time to get fit for the T20 World Cup, Bishnoi, although he is a specialist spinner hasn’t done his cause any harm.
With India already boasting an established spin line-up comprising vice-captain Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington chances were always rare. Bishnoi seized his lucky chance with both hands in the third T20I, returning tidy figures of 2/18 and removing the dangerous Mark Chapman (32) and Glenn Phillips (48) in successive spells to derail New Zealand’s middle overs.
His precision lengths and pace through the air stood out as the visitors were restricted to a modest 153/9 before India chased it down in just 10 overs for an eight-wicket win and an unassailable 3-0 lead.
“Yes, it is difficult when you are away from the side, you feel like you should be there but you are not,” Bishnoi said after the match here on Sunday. “This Indian team is very strong and there are very few spots available so limited opportunities. It was good because I had time to work on myself, I did a lot of work on myself.”
