Rahul Sharma thanks IPL for his success

Pune: The Pune Warriors India spinner Rahul Sharma says the IPL has helped him to prove his ability as a player and has also brought him on the national selectors' radar.

“I have shown my talent and ability in the IPL. The selectors have also seen my talent in [the] IPL and have given me [the] opportunity to play for India. MS [Dhoni] always tells me I am ‘a kind of bowler who can bowl well at any time’. I am performing well for India” Sharma said while talking to MiD DAY.

Sharma’s splendid run for Pune in the fourth edition of the IPL catapulted him on to the international stage. Ask Sharma about his underachievement on the domestic circuit, and he puts it down to ‘lack of opportunities.’ “I have played eight of my 12 first-class games at Mohali, which is a green top. I have spoken to world-class spinners like Shane Warne and Anil Kumble, and they have agreed that a spinner can’t take too many wickets on that kind of surface.”

The Pune legspinner says it’s the IPL that has brought him on the national selectors’ radar.

And how does he deal with the criticism about his first-class record? “Logon ka kaam hai kehna. Mera kaam hai ek kaan se sunna, aur dusre se nikaalna [people will keep talking but I listen from one ear and let it out from the other].”

Incidentally, Pune take on Kings XI Punjab on Thursday at Mohali, which is Sharma’s home ground. “There will be pressure of playing on my home ground. Last year I played here, that was the first time my parents saw me play in a big game, and I got the Man-of-the-Match award. So, hopefully I will do well for my team again there,” the 26-year-old added.

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