On a hot and sultry day of the practice match between Mumbai Ranji team and New Zealand at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Mumbai captain Aditya Tare gave the ball to Balwinder Singh Sandhu. Sandhu got one to move away in the air and nipped back sharply after pitching, leaving Guptill clueless in the middle.
Sandhu went off “the plan” as he bowled one short. It was a bread and butter for Martin Guptill who rocked back onto the backfoot and pulled it all the way for six.
In the next over when Sandhu returned to bowling, he was generating sharp pace against the right-hander. He kept the ball at the good length spot consistently and the movement of the ball was troubling Guptill.
The 29-year-old bowler kept trajectory for consecutive three overs and his hard work was paid off.
Guptill was dismissed pitched on the fourth stump. Guptill’s forward defence coughed up a thick edge for Tare behind the stumps.
The Mumbai bowler later in the match revealed that he has a plan for the batsman.
“The plan for Guptill was basic. Just try and hit the good length area and bowl a fourth stump line. That was the plan and I think it was successful,” said Sandhu at the post-day presser.
After getting an early breakthrough, Sandhu next time came in the 25th over when he loose shot from Kane Williamson gave the seamer his second wicket. Mumbai had planned for every visitor batsman and them, Sandhu said, “weren’t trying too many things in the middle.”
“The plan was to stick to our plan. We had come with preparation for every batsman. We had prepared for every batsman in the team meetings. I did not try too many things and stuck to my plan because we were up against a superior team.”
Meanwhile, Mumbai is the first time to play at a neutral venue before the Ranji season begins. This seasons all the matches will be played at neutral venues. So Mumbai already gets a taste.
Sandhu was asked whether his early breakthrough in this match will help him in the season ahead, Sandhu was quick to respond, “Yes, obviously it’s going to be good to get something from the wicket. Home teams always have wickets favouring them, so if some assistance on neutral venues will be of help.”