You need to have a big heart when you are bowling at death: Sandeep

After being out of action for a couple of weeks, Sandeep Sharma made a stunning comeback against Mumbai Indians on April 22 (Monday). The Rajasthan Royals seamer picked up his maiden five-wicket haul (5/18) in the Indian Premier League and restricted Mumbai to a par total. The Royals then hunted down the target in 18.4 overs.

Rajasthan have often used Sandeep in the middle and death overs but the 30-year-old was given the new ball against Mumbai. Sandeep dismissed Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in the powerplay and then returned to get rid of Tilak Varma, Gerald Coetzee and Tim David in the final over to complete his five-for.

"In this season, bowlers are going big. Batters are coming down swinging and with an impact player there, we have an extra batter. High scoring games are there. So you need to have a big heart when you are bowling at the death. Just try to execute your plans and leave it. If it goes for runs or wickets, so be it,” said Sandeep.

"If you are bowling in the death overs, it can go both ways. Sometimes you can go for runs, sometimes if you bowl well and are lucky enough, you can end up getting wickets. So that is what happened tonight."

Talking about his recovery and the Jaipur surface, the seamer said: “Last three weeks, I worked really hard towards my fitness. Thanks to all my physios and management who helped me to get back and play. Was working hard in the nets on my variations. I had two practice sessions and the focus was to execute all these variations that I did tonight.

"Wicket was a bit low and slow when we started, so my plan was to bowl cutters. Leg cutters and off cutters. It came out nicely tonight."

The Royals have won seven of their eight games so far and are currently at the top of the points table. Sandeep heaped heavy praise on skipper Sanju Samson and Director of Cricket for the Royals Kumar Sangakkara for creating a good atmosphere within the team.

"It is a happy environment, obviously positive. The management is really good, they are really allowing everyone to go out and express themselves. I'd also say Sanju, he is giving a lot of freedom to his bowlers and asking them to set their fields, and bowl according to that. So I'd say freedom and the good environment.

"He (Sangakkara) has played enough cricket to understand everyone's mind. He knows how to motivate. If you have not done well, he knows what to talk. He always comes with the right words whatever is needed. I'm surprised how he does that."

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