Sai Kishore’s backing helped me stay patient, says debutant Deepesh

Deepesh said Tamil Nadu had deliberately used the short ball against a Rajasthan batting line-up that was willing to take on the bouncer. | Photo Credit: S. PRASANNA VENKATESAN

Debutant pacer D. Deepesh on Monday credited Tamil Nadu captain Sai Kishore with helping him stay patient during his long wicketless spell against Rajasthan in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here.

“Sai Kishore, the captain, helped me a lot. He told me, ‘You bowl and give your full effort. I don’t mind if runs are scored off you. You will get a wicket. As long as you give your full effort, that is enough for me.’ While I was doing that, I got one wicket, and then two more came from the same effort,” he said.

The 18-year-old, who had bowled 18.5 overs without a wicket, claimed three wickets in his next eight deliveries to trigger Rajasthan’s collapse. The hosts lost four wickets for seven runs in 29 balls before being bowled out for 363.

Deepesh said Tamil Nadu had deliberately used the short ball against a Rajasthan batting line-up that was willing to take on the bouncer.

“It was not that everyone could leave the bouncer easily. They were all going for their shots. We felt it would be useful because of the areas they were trying to hit, so we used the bouncer a lot,” he said.

His maiden First-Class wicket came through persistence with the short ball. Mahipal Lomror (66) had pulled Deepesh for a boundary off a short ball before falling to another short delivery on the next ball. Deepesh said he sensed an opportunity after the batter had pulled a couple of short balls for fours.

“I knew that once he hit a couple of fours, he would not leave it anymore. We thought that was our chance to get a wicket, so I bowled another one. He went for the shot, and we got him,” he said.

Deepesh added that his experience in the TNCA first-division league had prepared him for long spells without wickets.

“In first-division matches, bowling eight or 10 overs is normal for us. Getting even one wicket after 10 overs is a big thing on those wickets, which are mostly spin-friendly or flat. If we bowl 10 overs and get two maidens, we are very happy. Playing on those pitches has helped me here,” he said.