Sandeep Sharma credits bowling to MS Dhoni in final over of IPL 2023 match as turning point in his career, reveals Rajasthan Royals pacer

New Delhi: Sandeep Sharma, the versatile pacer of Rajasthan Royals, has recently been retained by the team for a whopping amount of Rs. 4 crore for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Known for his unconventional bowling approach, Sandeep may not have the typical fast bowler physique, but he has consistently impressed in the IPL. With a 12-year-long IPL career, Sandeep has showcased his skills while playing for teams like Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and now Rajasthan Royals. Despite his limitations, Sandeep Sharma has proven to be a formidable opponent for batters, frequently causing trouble for them on the field.

If we look back into the IPL retentions, all the IPL teams submitted their final retention list with Rajasthan Royals retaining six players. The star pacer was one of them. The right arm medium pacer relaxed at his home when he learned about the retention. “I was just sitting at home only and then I got a call from the Rajasthan Royals CEO as he said that we are looking to retain you. It was a very emotional moment for me as you know two years ago, I went unsold and it was the Rajasthan Royals who gave me the chance to play again. I have had a terrific journey with the Rajasthan-based franchise so far,” Sandeep told ZEE NEWS in an exclusive conversation. View this post on Instagram

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Sandeep Sharma’s IPL Journey:

In a recent interaction with ZEE News – “When I went unsold in the IPL 2023, I got a call from Sanju Samson saying that I might play for Rajasthan Royals as there were a few injuries in their squad. Sanju said that he was sure that I would do good if given a chance. He showed a lot of faith in me. Sanju also stated that I should continue my training. I had a very positive conversation with Sanju Samson. After some time, I was asked to join Rajasthan Royals’ camp as pacer Prasidh Krishna got injured. This is how my journey started with the Rajasthan Royals”, Sandeep said.

Recently, former India cricketer Rahul Dravid was appointed as the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2025. On being asked about the team’s approach under the new coach, Sandeep said, “See, it’s too early to comment on that as the camp has not been started yet. We have not discussed the plan as of now. Once the players start coming, we will start the camp, and then we will discuss it. Rahul Dravid sir has joined the team as a coach and he has his own way of approaching the game. Every team has a flavour of playing cricket and at Rajasthan Royals, our strength is the fighting spirit. As a team, Rajasthan has been known for pushing and grooming young talents.”