‘Been more lucky than skilfull’ – Sandeep Sharma on dismissing Virat Kohli seven times in IPL [Exclusive]

Star pacer Sandeep Sharma has admitted that dismissing Virat Kohli has always involved an element of luck for him. He also named Suresh Raina as the toughest batter he has bowled to in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Sandeep also revealed that Sanju Samson has backed him the most throughout his career. The wily pacer addressed the ongoing speculation regarding Samson's move from Rajasthan Royals, stating that the talk of his transfer is merely a rumour, and that he is not aware of what is going around the matter.

Excerpts

You’ve dismissed Virat Kohli multiple times in IPL. What’s the secret behind your success against him?

I think I have been lucky and I have been asked this question so many times and always I have told that I have been lucky. I have dismissed him seven times. And out of those seven times, I think I have been lucky four times. 

One time, he was out down the leg while he was flicking, it hit the edge. The other time, umpire gave out LBW wrongly. Third time, he was batting on 100. He had scored 100 in Chinnaswamy Stadium, I still remember. And the ball I had bowled, it was a completely over-pitched ball. It was like, he can't miss it being a batsman on 100 and he missed it and he got out on the long off. Fourth one was again, it was a normal length ball and he played like a blinder shot and it went straight into David Warner's hand. 

If you see. So these are the four times I feel I was luck and around three times, with good ball, I got him out. So I think four times, I have been lucky in that manner. And last year, I missed a catch on my ball. So in that, that was again, good ball. So I would have told, okay, 50% ratio that I got out on a good ball. 50% ratio is like, I have been lucky. But I would say, I have been lucky more times in his case than any other bowler, I feel.

Who is the toughest batter to bowl at in IPL?

I feel it depends on which phase you're bowling. For me, in powerplay, I felt Suresh Raina was the toughest batsman to bowl. He always came and dominated me, being a lefty. Left-handed batters have never dominated me in IPL, like consistently. One odd game, somebody scores runs. 

So, I felt Suresh Raina was the toughest batter, for me, to bowl in powerplay. And in death, I would say MSD (MS Dhoni) and ABD (AB de Villiers). These two batters were like a nightmare when they were on their peak. 

You’ve played under a lot of captains in the IPL. Who backed you the most?

I think Sanju Samson, he backed me the most. He actually challenged me to do something that I had never done. And that is the quality of good captains, who see things in you which even you don't. He has done that. He has been really great to me.

And as a captain for RR, the team has seen so much success (under him). I think last five years, they have seen three to four good (seasons). So he has been a very good captain, and at the same time, a great leader. He understands everyone, anyone who's playing under him, he takes that effort to understand that personality. And then according to that, assigning those roles are very important.

As you talked about Sanju, there is speculation that he might be going to CSK or KKR. What would you like to say? 

I don't think so. They are rumours only. I think all these things go in the media one by one and after that it starts circulating. And if you ask me personally, I have not been the part of that conversation. Whatever is happening, I don't know. But I think personally, they are only rumours.