Indian Premier League is less than a month away and all the franchises are busy in order to adhere to the protocols made by BCCI. The players have already started flying to UAE and after the mandatory seven days quarantine, they will be under a biosecure bubble. With a lot of restrictions around, the practice and the level of cricket might suffer.

The tournament is happening in UAE this year and the local players won’t be available as nobody can be in direct contact with players as per the BCCI guidelines. Without net bowlers, the players will not be match ready without adequate practice. The owners of the franchises have taken a call to bring Indian bowlers who are not featuring in the league as net bowlers to UAE. Recently, Royal Challengers Bangalore announced their 40-member group which will travel to UAE and that comprised 5 net bowlers.

Delhi Capitals are also taking a group of bowlers who can help the batting unit with their net bowling. The bowlers include Pradeep Sangwan, who played for Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions and Kolkata Knight Riders in these years, another left-arm seamer Pawan Suyal, who has played for MI.

The left-arm pacer has been preferred over right-handed ones is because most of the primary squad speedsters are right-arm bowlers — Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan.

“You need variation at training and hence Sangi and Suyal are on board. They are experienced first-class players, who will provide quality practice,” a senior DDCA official said as quoted by The New Indian Express.

Pranshu Vijayaran an all-rounder from Delhi, Railways left-arm spinner Harsh Tyagi along with two youngsters, left-arm wrist spinner Rajat Goel and pacer Bobby Yadav comprises the five net bowlers.

“Yes, Sangwan and Suyal are travelling as net bowlers. Pranshu is the third guy and even Harsh who now plays for Ranji Trophy is our boy as he represented Delhi during his India U-19 days. Rajat is a local club cricketer while Bobby is from UP,” he added.

In IPL 2008, Delhi Daredevils chose Pradeep Sangwan over Virat Kohli

Pradeep Sangwan was a hero in India’s U-19 World Cup win in 2008. The team was led by the current Indian captain Virat Kohli. Interestingly, Delhi Daredevils got the first chance to pick from the players draft of U-19 players in IPL 2008 and they chose Pradeep Sangwan over Virat Kohli. Now, Sangwan has become a net bowler for the same franchise. Sangwan was also suspended by BCCI in 2013 for failing the dope test.

“Sangi (as his nickname is in Delhi circle) has suffered a lot due to injuries in the past few years. So has Suyal, who has now cut down his run-up consistently after stress fractures and back injuries. Hope bowling in IPL nets helps them,” the official, who has tracked both Pawan Suyal and Pradeep Sangwan said.