CHENNAI: In the first half of the ongoing IPL season, pacer Simarjeet Singh was low down in Chennai Super Kings' fast bowling pecking order.
The 26-year-old Simarjeet warmed the bench for the first 10 matches and had to patiently wait in the wings for an opportunity.
And when a chance arrived against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala - courtesy the unavailability of three key pacers due to different reasons - the youngster grabbed it with both hands.
Simarjeet made a dream start with a crucial two-wicket haul, only to suffer another setback in the very next match - he was taken to the cleaners in the loss to Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. However, he bounced back in style as he set up CSK's crucial victory over Rajasthan Royals with match winning figures of 3-26 here on Sunday.
Simarjeet broke the back of the Royals batting line-up, removing the top-order trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler and skipper Sanju Samson. Under the scorching Chennai sun and on a surface that deteriorated as the match progressed, Simarjeet showed great variety to fox the RR batters.
"Bowling in the heat was difficult; we knew that it would be difficult. We had to put effort into our bowling. The ball was stopping, gripping and then coming (to the batters).
I was trying to bowl the ball in my half and not in the batter's half. The captain (Ruturaj Gaikwad) and I had a chat and decided that bowling into the pitch was the right thing to do," said Simarjeet after having a field day at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Simarjeet has had to deal with injuries while making his way to the top. After featuring six times for CSK in IPL 2022, the right-arm fast bowler played no part in the following season after an injury setback.
He had also missed the whole of the 2022-2023 domestic season. "I am thankful to the CSK management,
physiotherapist and trainer. They treated me well when I was injured the whole year," said Simarjeet, who plays for Delhi at the domestic level.
Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey praised Simarjeet for making good use of the limited opportunities. "That is the exciting thing for us (coaches). We have some really exciting talent who have not been able to get opportunities.
Simarjeet has been able to show how good he is. He has been training hard behind the scenes and waiting for his chance. The same can be said for a few others as well," said Hussey.
"He (Simarjeet) has been excellent when he has played. I am really happy for him. It is great to know that we have got quality depth in our bowling," added Hussey.
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