'By changing my run-up a year ago, was trying to add skiddy nature to my bowling' - Ish Sodhi opens up after Mirpur heroics

Ish Sodhi, the Kiwi magician with the ball, left Bangladesh's batting lineup in disarray during the second ODI. Sodhi's four-wicket blitz in his opening spell sent shockwaves through the opposition camp, compelling captain Lockie Ferguson to momentarily withdraw him from the attack after the 19th over. However, the 30-year-old was far from finished, returning for his second spell in the 30th over, where he secured his maiden ODI five-wicket haul.

The pièce de résistance of this performance was a bewitching googly that outfoxed Mahedi Hasan, dismantling Bangladesh's last recognizable batting duo. The right-arm bowler, in a moment of post-match reflection, admitted that Hasan's wicket held a special place in his heart, as it embodied a delivery he had meticulously envisioned ever since he revamped his run-up to enhance his accuracy at the stumps. He disclosed that his strategic alterations included a deliberate effort to make the ball skid off the surface while capitalizing on his natural height advantage.

"Sometimes on slow wickets, I can sit in the wickets a little bit more. I was trying to add the skiddy sort of nature to my game by changing my run-up a year ago. Certainly not trying to neglect my height as well. I am trying to use it as much as I can," Sodhi said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.

A Spinner finding solace in spin-friendly pitches

New Zealand, known for its lack of spin-friendly pitches, has often posed challenges for spinners like Sodhi. Nonetheless, the resolute cricketer adapted admirably and found innovative ways to thrive in such conditions. The Ludhiana-born confessed that grasping the intricacies of Bangladeshi pitches took some time, but on grounds such as Mirpur, he appeared nothing short of a seasoned local, spinning his web with precision and guile.

"So it is important to find other ways to be successful. I naturally find it difficult here. The type of balls that spin (here) don't necessarily spin in New Zealand. Finding out what the stock ball looks like is really important," he said.