IPL 2017: Virender Sehwag Praises Sandeep Sharma & Axar Patel After Win Over RCB

May 6, 2017 at 11:15 AM

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IPL 2017: Virender Sehwag Praises Sandeep Sharma & Axar Patel After Win Over RCB

Virender Sehwag, Kings XI Punjab’s director of cricket operations, has hailed fast-bowler Sandeep Sharma and spinner Axar Patel after their exceptional bowling inspired the Punjab-based outfit to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday night (May 5).

With the season on the line, Glenn Maxwell’s men had their back against the wall when they were restricted to just 138 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs at the M Chinnswamy stadium. And while Royal Challengers batsmen were not going through a good phase, the target was still below par. The visitors were in dire need of an exceptional bowling performance and who better than their pace spearhead Sandeep Sharma to rise to the occasion.

The in-form pacer, whose 4 for 20 had helped his team to dismiss Delhi Daredevils for 67 just a week ago, once again starred with the ball, inspiring his side to dismiss the Royal Challengers for only 119 and register a 19-run victory. The pacer took 3 for 22 in his four overs as it strengthened Kings XI’s chances of making it to the playoffs. They now have 10 points from 10 matches and need at least three more wins from last four matches to qualify for the next round.

But what makes Sandeep’s bowling performance even more impressive is that he became the only bowler in the history of the Indian Premier League to dismiss Royal Challengers’ holy trinity- Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers- in the same match. Sandeep began by dismissing the dangerous Gayle, who tried to walk down the pitch and smash it but got a leading edge to point. Kohli also tried to smash the bowler by dancing down the pitch but had to pay a hefty price for it as his stumps were shattered. Then De Villiers was caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha.

With Bangalore’s top-order back in the hut, Axar Patel then took the onus on himself to make light work of the lower-order. The left-arm spinner sent back Shane Watson before breaking a dangerous looking partnership by dismissing Pawan Negi and Samuel Badree on successive deliveries to finish with figures of 3 for 11 in 3 overs. The all-rounder had also top-scored for his team, scoring 38 of just 17 deliveries to steer them to a respectable total.

Delighted with their performances, Virender Sehwag took to Twitter to praise the duo.

“Great performance by Sandeep to become the 1st man to get all Gayle,Virat,ABD in a match .Axar Patel was brilliant. Congratulations Team !,” the former batsman tweeted.

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