Mahesh Pithiya doesn’t thoughts the eye he’s getting and his quiet and unassuming presence is actually endearing.
One may simply miss him among the many plethora of internet bowlers who sweat it out at any touring crew’s nets earlier than the uncanny resemblance with Ravichandran Ashwin’s motion surprises you.
He is barely 4 first-class matches previous however the Australian crew has made him a travelling internet bowler and he’s lapping up each little bit of consideration he’s getting.
“Maine pahle din hi Steve Smith ko 5 se 6 baar out kiya thaa nets mein (I had got Smith out at least six times in the nets on first day),” a smiling Mahesh advised PTI as he stood in a single nook watching his idol Ashwin go about his job within the nets.
Talk about Ashwin, the 21-year-old began beaming. Mahesh has generated curiosity amongst India gamers as effectively.
“Today I got blessings from my idol. I have always wanted to bowl like him. When I am met him as he was entering the nets, I touched his feet and sought his blessings. He hugged me and then asked what exactly am I bowling to the Australians,” he mentioned.
“Virat Kohli also smiled at me and gestured thumbs up and wished me luck,” you couldn’t miss the pleasure in his voice.
He has simply began his journey in senior cricket for Baroda and that’s what is his focus in the meanwhile.
“I have started my journey in Ranji Trophy and I want to focus on my red ball game. I want to cement my place in the Baroda side. I am not thinking about IPL now,” mentioned Mahesh, who had labored in a tea stall few years in the past.
So what precisely does he bowl? Does he have a carrom ball or a slider like Ashwin? “No, I don’t bowl carrom ball or doosra. My stock ball is off break and another ball that I have myself developed is one that has a bit of backspin in it. But I bowl that in white-ball cricket,” mentioned the person who lives together with his mother and father, elder brother and sister in regulation.
Bowling to Smith and Labuschagne has been a life altering expertise for him.
“It has been amazing to work with this Australian side. My job is to mainly bowl to Steve Smith at Australia nets. He didn’t ask me to bowl anything specific.” Mahesh feels fortunate that he’s capable of work together loads with Nathan Lyon who has given him some invaluable recommendations on the artwork of off spin.
“Lyon first asked me to show my grip and explain what I do while rolling my fingers. He then explained how I can get more revs (rotation) on the ball and also how my front leg (left) should land. He told me to have confidence in my ability.” The Australian crew be utilizing Mahesh’s providers until the beginning of the second Test in Delhi.
“I am there with the team till February 17. It has been a life changer for me,” mentioned the younger man.
