I’ve practiced to bowl quicker, consistently, this season: Anureet

It just takes a few moments of brilliance on the field to change the tide in your favour. Ask Ashish Reddy about it and he will vouch for it. Chennai Super Kings were very much in the hunt at one point of time when MS Dhoni and Faf du Plessis were at the crease manoeuvring the Sunrisers bowlers for singles and doubles and an odd boundary every over.

That was until over number thirteen when David Warner tossed the ball to Ashish Reddy with a hope of getting a breakthrough. Reddy’s first ball to Dhoni was a bit full outside off stump and Dhoni easily hit it through the gap for a couple. Next ball, same delivery, this time Dhoni got a single to give Faf du Plessis the strike.

Next, du Plessis nudged for another single to square leg to give the strike back to Dhoni. Three deliveries full of calmness and the vibe at the stadium gave a feel that the fourth delivery could well be an eventful one. The orange flags had stopped waving, a wicket was the need of the hour.

Reddy ran in to bowl to Dhoni. The CSK skipper whacked the ball straight down the ground only to hit du Plessis on the way. Reddy on his follow through was watching the ball like a hawk and was quick to react to the situation and have the presence of mind to run du Plessis out.

“Dhoni hit it straight to Faf. I was watching the ball at all times,” Reddy told iplt20.com recalling his dramatic first over.

“Luckily the ball deflected off Faf and rolled back towards the bowling crease. I was quick to react and it was good to get that run-out at that point of time. We needed a wicket badly.

”The flags began waving yet again at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium and the crowd cleared their throats in support of the home team. But there was still MS Dhoni at the crease. Reddy had answers for Dhoni as well.

He got the CSK captain bowled very next ball. “It was a big wicket for me,” Reddy smiled from ear to ear talking about Dhoni’s dismissal. “To get the Indian captain out like that was really special.

As per the situation I felt it was ideal to bowl a bit slower to him. I just wanted to mix the pace because it was a very good wicket to bat on. I am very happy to get his wicket.

”Reddy was a bundle of joy as he watched the CSK captain take the long walk back to the pavilion. What followed was a disciplined bowling effort from the rest of the bowling attack to help the side register a 22-run victory. For Reddy it was a night worth remembering and cherishing for a long time.

It is his bowling that stole the show on the night and Reddy only hoped he could deliver whenever the need arose in the future.“Whenever I have been given an opportunity, I have tried my level best to bowl well. I have given my hundred percent and tried to contain the run-flow as much as possible.

Our bowling lineup boasts of some big names and getting a few overs for someone like me is difficult. You have to make sure you perform well when you get that opportunity.” The all-rounder also attributed a lot of his bowling success to the two best fast bowlers in his side.

“Having Trent (Boult) and (Dale) Steyn during practice sessions has really helped. They have often told me about using certain deliveries at a certain time and give me tips on bowling the yorkers effectively. Their inputs have been of great help.

Even tonight I just wanted to execute my plans well and pitch the deliveries on specific places on the pitch. It was important to have a clear plan while going out to bowl.” Bowling aside, Reddy also looked forward to showcase his big-hitting capabilities in the games to follow.

“The team has given me the freedom to go and express myself while batting. I have been asked to just go out there, watch the ball and hit, because at most times I would be coming to bat at the back end of the innings. I am feeling really confident of my batting after the innings against Kings XI Punjab (Reddy blasted 22 off 15 balls in that match in Mohali).

That knock has boosted my confidence and I will try to bat in a similar fashion whenever I get an opportunity. At the moment I am really happy that we could register a win against a strong side like Chennai Super Kings in our home ground.”.

Source: