While the Indian medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma is keen to feature in the IPL 2020, he feels that the long break will affect the players’ games. The 26-year-old pacer also revealed the long term goal in his cricket career.
The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League or IPL 2020 was initially scheduled to run between 29th March and 24th May 2020. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has postponed this tournament amid coronavirus outbreak. It is still unsure about the future of IPL 2020 as the situation is still not under control.
The right-arm medium pacer Sandeep Sharma last time played a match in December 2019. Now, he is waiting for the IPL 2020. To remain match fit, he is working out regularly at home.
In an online interview, Sharma told The Indian Express, “I have been keeping myself busy in bodyweight training like pushups, crunches, squats, and stair climbing. In the absence of proper gym facilities, I am also working on the swish ball for core exercises.”
“I have been trying to keep myself fit by running in my backyard garden and playing tennis cricket with my brothers.”
Sharma feels that the long-break will affect similarly the game of a bowler and batsman.
He added, “The month-long break will not only affect the game of a bowler, but batsmen will also struggle to get back their touch. Now the challenge after the lockdown would be to get into shape and get ample match practice.”
Talking about any further news on the IPL 2020, Sharma claimed that the players didn’t communicate with the BCCI or their respective franchises since the first postponement of this tournament.
Sharma said, “We have received no communication from the BCCI or the franchise about when IPL will take place. The last communication was about the postponement of the IPL till April 14.”
For every professional cricketer, the tournament and the matches are important: Sandeep Sharma
Though Sharma has admitted that the players feel good to play in front of the large spectators, at present, he believes that the matches are more crucial for the players. He is ready to play cricket even at the empty stadiums.
Sharma claimed, “For every professional cricketer, the tournament and the matches are important. That’s what they want. It does not matter if it’s being played in a stadium full of spectators or at an empty venue. A player’s focus would always be on winning the game even if it’s a club-level match. But at the same time, playing before thousands of cricket fans always makes you feel good.”
In his IPL career, while Sandeep Sharma served for Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) from 2013 to 2017, he is now playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) from 2018. He has taken 95 wickets in 79 IPL matches. In this interview, Sharma also revealed his best memories in IPL career.
He said, “Playing IPL final, getting Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers out (IPL 2017) in a single match and my first IPL Man of the Match award (2014, for KXIP) are some of the best memories for me.”
Sharma feels that he is now a mature bowler who can bowl confidently at any stage of the game.
He added, “I have become mentally strong and matured. Playing with the world’s best players and bowling in different situations has helped me evolve as a mature cricketer. In Kings XI Punjab I used to get the new ball to bowl, but with Bhuvneshwar Kumar being the pace spearhead in SRH, I am called to bowl at any over. In the process, I have gained that confidence and experience of bowling any over from 1-20 in T20 cricket.”
My long term goal is to play for India again: Sandeep Sharma
In 2015, during India tour of Zimbabwe, Sharma made his international debut and played two T20Is (took only one wicket). Since then, he hasn’t got another opportunity for India. His long term goal is to play for India once again.
Sharma said, “My long term goal is to play for India again. I got that chance in 2015 but owing to the shoulder injury, I could not retain my place. Now with a better show in the IPL and other domestic games, I want to aim for a place in Indian cricket team.”