NEW DELHI: The anticipation and excitement in the stadium quickly turned to silence as fans began to leave following star batter Virat Kohli‘s dismissal. Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan became the day’s highlight by disrupting Kohli’s stumps, spoiling his return to the Ranji Trophy after 13 years.
Fully aware of his achievement in claiming the wicket of a world-class batter, Sangwan leaped in celebration after sending Kohli’s stumps cartwheeling.
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This isn’t the first time Sangwan has showcased his talent. In a 2020 Ranji Trophy match, he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and his list of notable dismissals also includes Rinku Singh, Prithvi Shaw, Krunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, and Devdutt Padikkal.
Beyond his cricketing achievements, Sangwan works as a ticket collector at the New Delhi Railway Station and has honed his skills under the guidance of Australian legend Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Academy.
“I take inspiration from Australia legend Glenn McGrath. He is my idol. I learnt a lot from McGrath during my stint at the MRF Pace Foundation. I was there for a short camp in March (2019). He used to watch my videos and tell me the areas where I should improve. He is a legend of the game. He told me one thing – ‘when in trouble, go to the basics’,” Sangwan had told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview in 2020 after dismissing Rahane during the Ranji Trophy game vs Mumbai.
“I bowled many deliveries under his (McGrath’s) supervision and he was taking notes. After every session, he used to motivate me and tell me technical things. ‘Stick to the basics and stay patient’ – these are the two things I will always remember from McGrath,” Sangwan said.
SANGWAN’S REVENGE
Amidst the loud cheers at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Railways’ bowlers maintained their composure as Kohli walked to the crease. They challenged the modern-day great with accurate bowling. Kohli’s homecoming was not impressive and lasted a little over 20 minutes.
Facing Sangwan, Kohli stepped out and drove a delivery straight down the ground for a boundary, sending the crowd into a frenzy. However, on the very next ball, as Kohli advanced again, the ball sneaked through the big gap between bat and pad, and uprooted the off-stump.
A pin-drop silence enveloped the stadium and Kohli looked at the stumps before slowly making his way back to the pavilion named after him. Even before he could take the stairs, the crowd was on their way out.