Ish Sodhi Revels in BBL Experiences

Ish Sodhi Revels in BBL Experiences

After knocking Sydney Thunder out of the 2016-17 Big Bash League with a magnificent six-wicket haul, a buoyant Ish Sodhi revealed that the short stint with Adelaide Strikers proved to be fruitful in more ways than one. Defending 179, Sodhi wrecked Thunder's batting lineup with a masterful display of legspin bowling to skittle them out for just 101. This was the last game of the season for Adelaide Strikers, and Sodhi.

The legspinner was pleased that he was able to turn his form around during the two Twenty20 International matches that he played against Bangladesh recently, which eventually helped him to do even better in the BBL. "I had faced a few setbacks at home, and I wasn't in the form I wanted to be in," Sodhi said after the game. "I got it back in the T20s for New Zealand and I'm glad that I have transferred it to performances in the BBL.

The 24-year-old was signed in as a replacement player by Strikers for Chris Jordan. He played three matches in total, picking up nine wickets. He now hopes to take part in the tournament again in the future. "I don't know if I'll be back next year," he said. "It's quite unfortunate that our seasons clash so heavily. I love it here though. If I get the chance again, if it is next year or five years time, I'll be happy."

More than anything, Sodhi was pleased that the dressing room helped him revive his love for the sport. "The boys have rejuvenated my love for the game," he remarked. "On the field and off it, just the conversations I had with guys like Brad Hodge. Today I got to meet one of my heroes growing up, Stuart McGill, and you can't put a price on that. I will take some great experiences back home with me and hopefully, I can impact some of my team-mates."

The time spent with the former Australian legspinner Stuart McGill helped him learn a lot, according to Sodhi's own admission. "He spoke a lot about repetition," Sodhi noted. "Growing up, if you liked legspin, you loved watching McGill bowl, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, those guys.

"Just to sit down with him was inspiring. He didn't have to say much - he did tell me a lot, which was great - but just being in his presence was amazing. He's a guy who gave me something to look up to when I was younger and something to look forward to. He taught me a lot and hopefully I can continue to make him proud."