Will be a huge honour to share dressing room with players like Zaheer & Yuvraj: Gurinder Sandhu
Indian-origin Australian pacer Gurinder Sandhu, who made his international debut for Australia against India during the Carlton Mid triangular series last month, has said that he is looking forward to his first stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in April and is excited about playing with Indian pacer Zaheer Khan.
The 21-year-old was purchased by Delhi Daredevils for a sum of Rs 1.7 crores at the IPL auction that was held in Bengaluru earlier this month.
"Obviously, he has been a great exponent of reverse swing. Hopefully, I will get to learn the art of reversing from him as it will be a good two months that we will be there for the Daredevils.
"Also I would want to know about what kind of homework does he do about opposition batsmen. People say that he is a master in reading a batsman's mind and it won't be a bad idea to get to peek into his brain," Sandhu told PTI in an interview.
"For me the greatest incentive about playing for the Delhi Daredevils is not just about the money I will make but a chance to share the dressing rooms with players like Zaheer Khan, Angelo Mathews and Yuvraj Singh. Especially, it can't get better that I will be training and playing with a bowler of Zaheer's calibre," he added.
Sandhu further said that while he hasn't yet played a game at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, he has prior experience of visiting India and has trained under Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai.
“I have been to India before at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai after Glenn McGrath took charge. I have never played at the Feroz Shah Kotla but looking forward towards the experience," he said.
Couldn’t watch the IPL auctions live: Sandhu
He further added that he couldn't watch the auctions live as he was playing a Sheffield Shield game for his state side New South Wales and found out about it after the day’s play when his friends informed him that he was picked by the Delhi-based franchise. He also said that he got messages from his fellow teammates in the Australian team, congratulating him on getting an IPL contract.
"It was at the end of the day that I was told by my mates that I have bagged a contract with the Delhi Daredevils. My folks are also excited as it's a great opportunity for a young player like me.
"I got congratulatory messages from my Australian team-mates Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. They were very happy for me," Sandhu said.
The Sydney-based bowler also revealed the one question he would like to ask Yuvraj Singh if given an opportunity and added that he did get an email from head coach Gary Kirsten welcoming him into the Daredevils family.
“If I get a chance to ask Yuvraj one question, I would like to ask whether he has any particular shot in mind for any particular bowler, when he comes into bat.
“Although I haven't spoken formally to Gary, I did get an email from him after the auctions. He welcomed me to the Daredevils family and said that he is looking forward towards meeting me," he said.