Former Indian pacer Ashoke Dinda has recalled castling Cheteshwar Pujara in both innings of a Domestic match played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Earlier this week, Dinda announced his retirement from all forms of the game, having represented India in 13 ODIs and nine T20Is.
Ashoke Dinda ended his career as Bengal’s second-highest wicket-taker in domestic cricket. During an interaction with Sportskeeda, Dinda opined on how he outsmarted Pujara with a plan based on bowling outswingers.
“I got him out bowled twice, in both innings of a match at the Eden Gardens and joked that there is a small hole in the ‘wall’. We put a plan in place after a discussion with Manoj (Tiwary).
“There was a field in place for outswing bowling, and I decided to bowl only outswingers to him for the next 3-4 overs. So, he started leaving balls outside off-stump,” said Dinda.
“ Then, I disguised one and slipped in an inswinging off-cutter, which caught Pujara completely off-guard, and he was bowled through the gate between bat and pad,” he added.
Dinda admitted that his plan worked out well only because the captain, backed him. He believes having the backing of the captain is essential, as it can boost the confidence of any bowler.
“If the captain backs you, then it becomes easier to execute your plans. I earned the belief of the captain through my performances and thus he was willing to trust me, knowing I would do the required job,” he further stated.
Dinda also termed the wicket of current Indian captain Virat Kohli as a special one, naming him among the top five batsmen he dismissed during his playing career.
“I have dismissed Kohli in Ranji Trophy. He is also my first wicket in IPL. I will always remember the manner in which I got David Warner bowled. Then, there is Dwayne Smith and Wasim Jaffer. It is very difficult to dislodge a batsman like Jaffer,” he concluded
In 116 first-class matches, he claimed 420 scalps at an average of 28.28 with 26 five-fors and five 10-wicket match hauls. He also featured for Goa in the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.