Deodhar Trophy 2018-19: Krishnappa Gowtham talks about dismissing Ajinkya Rahane and his all-round show

On Thursday, India C defeated India A by six wickets to enter the final of the Deodhar Trophy 2018-19 where they will face the Shreyas Iyer-led India B. Off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham played a big role in India B reaching the final. In an all-round performance, he claimed three wickets, including those of Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina, and with the bat, scored 18 runs. His knock of 18 runs included two sixes as well.

Largely seen as a T20 specialist, the Karnataka bowler extended his horizons when he got into Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy side and took 18 wickets in his first three matches. Talking about the prized scalp of Rahane in the Deodhar Trophy, Gowtham explained the process of the wicket, while adding that he enjoys bowling at the Feroz Shah Kotla, where the match took place.

“[Rahane] has much knowledge about the wicket and he’s played much international cricket. [But] at the same time, he’s a batsman. When you put a batsman under pressure, he will sulk under pressure. He has to play a false shot (a soft drive to cover). I was trying to do that, I didn’t want to bowl to his strengths; his strengths are – he wants the ball to come on to him quickly, and he wants to use the pace of the ball. But I was making sure that [I made it uncomfortable for him]. He likes the ball coming on to him but I wasn’t giving it so easily to him. He had to work for a single, he had to do everything,” Gowtham was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

Open to both roles – batting and bowling

Although his performances on most occasions have been those of a fine all-rounder, the 30-year-old likes to believe that he is more of a bowler who can chip in with some runs too. He also said that he is open to whatever the situation of the game demands from him.

“[I’m ready to adapt to] whatever the situation demands and whatever the team demands. If I had to play as an offspinner, I can do that and if there are runs required quickly, they (the team management) might promote me up the order and ask me to take those extra chances which I can take. So I don’t mind that role; whatever the team demands of me, I don’t mind to try and execute it,” he said.

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