Sandeep: To earn a spot in the XI, 'you need to offer real value'

Sandeep Sharma’s journey with Rajasthan Royals has turned into a compelling redemption story. Initially drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Prasidh Krishna in 2023, he has now become a key figure in the team, earning a retention ahead of IPL 2025.

Two major factors have contributed to his resurgence. He has evolved beyond being a swing bowler restricted to the powerplay, now offering control in the middle overs and at the death. Alongside that, he has expanded his skill set—adding a back-of-a-length cross-seam delivery that works well on two-paced pitches, and mastering wide yorkers with precision.

Against Punjab Kings, Sandeep delivered a standout performance, taking 2 for 21 in four overs—two up front and two at the death—as RR defended a target of 205 with ease.

Reflecting on his development, Sandeep said, “When I joined two years ago, the management told me they didn’t want just two or three overs up front. So I started working on that back home. I realised if I wanted to stay in the XI, especially with someone like Archer in the side, I had to add something more.”

He spent time in the nets honing his new variations, which paid off against PBKS. In the 17th and 19th overs, he nailed seven yorkers and used clever changes in pace to restrict a well-set Shashank Singh. He also dismissed Suryansh Shedge with a slower ball that angled away, showing tactical awareness and control.

Sanju Samson praised both Sandeep and Archer, saying, “That’s a deadly combo—one bowling around 150 and the other around 115. Sandy has been doing it for me the past couple of years. He’s one of India’s best when it comes to both powerplay and death overs.”

Sandeep shared that his bowling strategy was informed by feedback from RR’s batters, who helped him understand how the Mullanpur pitch was playing. He explained, “Bowling second gave us the advantage. Our batters told us back-of-a-length deliveries were hard to hit, especially with the ball skidding and keeping low. So we focused on hitting that area and took pace off the ball. That was the key.”

He also praised Archer, who has bounced back after two expensive outings. “We knew he was world-class. Once he got that one breakthrough, it would all come back. He’s already adjusting his lengths, and that’s what champions do—they adapt quickly based on what’s needed.”

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