MAYANK KUMAR ∙ 8 Apr 2021
IPL 2021: Now a Knight Rider, Sandeep Warrier recalls Virat Kohli's role in his IPL journey
Sandeep Warrier was one of the emerging pacers during the 2012-13 edition of the Ranji Trophy when the big opportunity of the Indian Premier League came knocking his door. The offer came directly from the recommendation of Virat Kohli—who was rising with every game and were to lead the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the next edition of the league in 2013. Looking back at his IPL journey, Warrier recalls how he received a call from the Royal Challengers Bangalore management right after he bowled against Indian batsmen such as Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. “When I came back from the Ranji trophy, MA Satish sir was the manager of the Indian team that time and India had a One Day match against England in Kochi. He asked me whether I can come to bowl in the nets in Kochi. I went to bowl in the nets. I bowled to Rohit bhai (Rohit Sharma) and Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja). So, that’s how Virat saw me that time he told RCB management that day itself and I got the call from Avinash sir (AvinashVaidya, RCB team manager), that we are interested in signing you,” Warrier recalls his journey to the cash-rich league in a video posted by KKR on its YouTube channel. He recalls that Virat Kohli did not bat against him in the nets before an ODI against England in 2013, but his exploits against other batsmen were good enough for him to recommend his name to the RCB management. Warrier was only 21-year-old in 2013 when RCB handed him a contract for one year. However, he could not feature in their playing XI and had to wait for a long time to make his debut that came only in the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League. Warrier is a vital cog for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming edition of the IPL starting April 9 as he forms a formidable group of Indian pacers who will partner Pat Cummins to dismantle opposition batting line ups.
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