Sandeep Sharma shares behind-the-scenes memories with PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta [Exclusive]

Sandeep also voiced his thoughts on whether Indian players should also step away from the 20-over format to focus on Tests and ODIs.

Published - 04 Sept 2025, 17:51 IST | Updated - 04 Sept 2025, 17:53 IST

3 Min Read

Chandigarh-based Sandeep Sharma recently shared an interesting and unheard behind-the-scenes story which involved him and Punjab Kings' co-owner Preity Zinta from the Indian Premier League. During this exclusive interaction with CricTracker, the ace pacer also voiced his thoughts on whether Indian players should also step away from the 20-over format to focus on Tests and ODIs. Lastly, he also provided his all-time best pacers.

The right-arm medium pacer has represented India in two T20Is up until now, but his future in international cricket is as good as it is right now. His stats in the IPL are much better though, having played 137 matches in the league's history while representing three different franchises — Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and can be easily considered as a veteran of the tournament. With 146 wickets to his name thus far, Sandeep has been a true asset to the three franchises he has represented so far.

Excerpts from the interview:

Any unheard story involving you and PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta that you would like to share?

There are a lot of such stories, but I will have to think about it. We were playing a match in Bengaluru against RCB. And I had taken three wickets with the new ball. Virat, ABD and Chris Gayle. So in that match, actually, the Player of the Match was supposed to be Axar Patel, who had also taken two wickets in that match and it was a low-scoring game. In the last over, he had scored 25 runs [19 runs] and scored 38 runs [in total].

But the Player of the Match was his, if you look at it. So Preity ma'am was there and she told Ravi Shastri there that the Player of the Match should be Sandy, he has picked three big wickets. And actually, they gave me the Player of the Match. That was one sweet thing. And I actually went and offered it to Axar. But, he told me that these three wickets were very important. Otherwise, 138 runs wouldn’t have been defended anywhere.

Many cricketers have announced their T20I retirement to focus on the longer formats like ODIs and Tests. Do you feel some Indian players should also step away from T20/T20Is to focus on Tests and ODIs, considering workload management?

Those who wanted to, they did. For example, Virat was a senior player. And after that, Rohit Sharma was there, and somebody like Jaddu [Jadeja], I felt, still could have played T20Is for the next 4-5 years. That is his fitness. But he has done that.

I don't think there is any other player who would take retirement from T20 and focus on Tests and ODIs. I don't think so. I don't think there is any other player. But those who were in that category, they did it.

And slowly, I feel these things will happen in the Indian setup because so many people are coming in. Many players are there where people will have to decide whether to play two formats or one format. So much of talent is there, which you will have to push up with the time.

Sanju called me after I went unsold in IPL: Sandeep Sharma