Follow UsOn the back of two successful seasons for Punjab Kings, India rewarded the 21-year-old leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi with a national call-up. While it was widely expected that the Rajasthan spinner won’t get a chance up front, Rohit Sharma announced the leg-spinner’s debut at the toss.
Bishnoi, on his debut for the national team, bamboozled the Windies batters, with spell of 2/17, where he bowled as many dot-balls. In the video posted by BCCI, Bishnoi called his debut as a “dream come true moment”, and insisted that his efforts were to make India win.
“I got the Indian cap today, it is a dream come true moment for me. The fact that I got the cap from Yuzi bhai (Chahal), made it every sweeter. I felt really nice and I put my entire efforts in making the team win,” Bishnoi told BCCI.
Also read: Ravi Bishnoi: A look into India’s T20I future
The leg-spinner also opened up on the management, stating that everyone in the dressing welcomed him with arms open. Bishnoi also revealed that there was constant help from the seniors and the bowling coach Paras Mhambrey on his game.
“It is every one’s dream to play for India. When I came in for practice the first day, I was very nervous but excited. But Rahul sir welcomed me and it felt like home. Everyone talked to me, the seniors backed me and helped me throughout the practice sessions. My goal is to play for the team and help them win,” he added.
Bishnoi’s key to success was simple, hit the right length and not give a lot of room for the Windies batters to free their arms. In his very first over, the leg-spinner erred his line before finding his groove in the same over.
“Planning was to hit the right length and not allow them room to score easy runs. West Indies are one of the best sides in T20s and my plan was to restrict any room, bowl stump-to-stump. In that attempt, I also bowled a lot of wides, will try to solve that next time.”