Kandy, Aug 7: Even the black bandana around his forehead does not give paceman Ashoke Dinda the menacing look he’s after as he runs in to bowl. However, he is a fine example of appearances being deceptive. What he lacks in build he makes up for in intensity and determination. When the Indian team left for the tour to Sri Lanka, he was one of the players in the side waiting his turn to display his skills.
After conceding 13 runs in his first over of the sole T20I against SL, the paceman came back to claim the wicket of Angelo Mathews and then polished off the tail to finish with 3-1-19-4. He relived the experience while speaking to the media after the last game of the tour.
Excerpts from the brief interaction with the press:
On whether the performance in the only T20I boosted his confidence
Obviously, getting four wickets for 19 runs [helps the confidence]. Bowling a maiden in the last over, with three wickets [in the game], is an amazing performance. I felt very good after today’s performance. Making a comeback after the way the first over went [13 runs were conceded] [felt good]. The kind of wicket this was, any amount of runs could have been chased so we had that tension too [while defending the total]. But in the end we bowled well, fielded well and we won.
On whether bowling bouncers was part of his strategy when batsmen were in attack mode
The short ball is a surprise ball. No batsman thinks that the ball will come into the body at this height at 140 kph so in that sense the short ball is a surprise. If the batsman tries to hit, it can go for a six or a four also. But at the same time, the chances of getting a wicket are also high. Whenever I have bowled a short ball the fielder is in the back at fine-leg or square-leg. I keep a fielder in position when I bowl a short ball.
On the plan to get Dinesh Chandimal out
I knew that he would hit. I had picked his wicket in the last ODI and I know his strengths and weaknesses. So I just bowled a full-length delivery and both my fielders were back [near the boundary]. If he was to hit, if he was to clear the fielder, it would have to be a good shot. But if not, then I [was sure to] get his wicket so that’s what I tried.
On Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
It is very nice. It is my second tour to Sri Lanka. The people are also very good. I really loved playing here.
On whether this was a good tour for youngsters ahead of the ICC World T20
We have a good talented lot with players like Virat Kohli, Manoj Tiwary, Suresh Raina and in the bowling department there is Umesh Yadav, Irfan Pathan and me. Everyone is very good. We have been playing a lot of cricket in domestic matches, IPL. We have gained a lot of experience from IPL matches. It was great.
On the relatively inexperienced bowling line-up playing in the absence Zaheer Khan
Zaheer bhai is a legend of Indian cricket and he taught us a lot before leaving. He [taught] us things like how to bowl to a right-hand batsman or a left-hand batsman. We have worked hard in the nets and the result is there to see.
