Himanshu Sangwan is a tested performer, not an ordinary Ranji Trophy bowler: Ravichandran Ashwin

Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan shot to fame after he clean bowled Virat Kohli through the gate in the recent Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Kohli, who was making a comeback to the domestic tournament after 12 years, did not last long at the crease as he could score 6(15) only.

Eager to regain form, the poor outing for the Delhi batter not only disappointed him but also the spectators who had thronged to the stadium to watch him play. No sooner did Kohli get out the crowd began making their way out.

The villain of the crowd, Sangwan, celebrated the wicket wholeheartedly. It probably added fuel to the fire as some fans decided to target him online though some of them chose the wrong account to do so.

Some of them, perhaps, might have deemed Sangwan as just another domestic cricket bowler but former Indian player Ravichandran Ashwin has a message for them. The wily off-spinner lauded the pacer for the wicket ball and called him as no "ordinary Ranji Trophy bowler". Ashwin was effusive in his praise for the Najafgarh-born player, even going on to term him a "gold-dust performer".

“Himanshu Sangwan delivered a phenomenal ball. He is not an ordinary Ranji Trophy bowler. He is a tested performer. He is a gold-dust performer. He bowled an exceptional delivery. There was a gap between pad and bat, it was a class delivery. The ball deserved a wicket," said Ashwin on his YouTube channel 'Ash ki Baat'.

Also Read: Who is Himanshu Sangwan? Biography, Career, Stats & More

Ashwin also shed light on Kohli's batting in the match. The Chennai-born felt that Kohli was playing the deliveries a little too fast and needed to adapt to the pace. Ashwin praised Kohli's fans as well, saying that he is happy that the legend has such passionate fans.

"I saw him (Virat Kohli) batting. His bat was coming down a little faster. Sometimes, you have to adjust to the speed. When you face 140-145kmph bowlers regularly, you need to adjust to the pace. Time in the middle, nothing can beat it. The fandom and love that Virat Kohli gets is enviable. I am so happy for Virat that he has these sorts of fans. Totally happy for Virat Kohli,” Ashwin added.

Sangwan finished with figures of 4/55 in the match. Railways were not able to make Delhi bat again and hence the 29-year-old fast bowler did not get a chance to bowl again nor did Kohli get to bat again. The home team won the game comfortably by an innings and 19 runs.

Sangwan, meanwhile, has played 24 first-class games in which he has scalped 81 wickets at an average of 19.61 and a strike rate of 39.4. The right armer has three five-wicket hauls to his name with best figures of 6/33 in an innings.