IPL 10: Aniket Choudhary reveals AB's advice to him that cost RCB the game against MI

The Royal Challengers Bangalore seem to be stooping to a new low with every passing game that they are playing. They had a fair outside chance in the race to the playoffs prior to the game against Mumbai Indians. However, a defeat in the fixture now sees them out of the race for the knockout stages. RCB bowler Aniket Choudhary has been one of the few positives that the team can draw from the lackluster season.

Choudhary, who was first spotted by Virat Kohli in the nets during the Test series against Australia, was bagged for a whopping INR 2 crore at the auctions this year. He has bowled with pace and precision this season in the limited opportunities that he has got. A rare moment of failure for him occurred when he ended up being hit for a six on his final delivery in the previous match against Mumbai Indians.

The match looked set for a tight finish. MI needed 30 to win off the last three overs. Aniket Choudhary was the man to be bowling the 18th over of the match. He bowled very well to concede just 5 runs in the first five deliveries. A wide ball followed next. Just before the last ball, he went up to AB de Villiers for an advice on how to bowl the final one to Hardik Pandya.

The veteran South African asked him to go for a pace delivery since he had already bowled 4 slower ones in the over. Perhaps, it was this advice that cost RCB the game. Aniket bowled a full and quick delivery that was dispatched into the stands by Pandya. Skipper Virat Kohli looked absolutely miffed at the end result.

“I was wondering whether to bowl him (Hardik) the slower one or the fast one. Maybe it was a match-changing point. So I went to AB and asked him ‘what should I bowl?’ And he said ‘maybe he’s ready for the slower one, so I think you should go with the hard length.’ And when someone as great as AB tells you do to something, such a world class player and if he is giving you a suggestion, it’s very hard to go against it. And I thought he is right. And Virat wasn’t happy with what I bowled. He thought I did the wrong thing and I should have bowled full and slow,” quoted Aniket Choudhary.

Despite the odd moment, Choudhary has no love lost for AB. He noted that AB has always backed him to do well in the tournament. He has been very supporting in the nets as well. Aniket reflected how AB de Villiers consoled him after the poor delivery.

“In the last training session, I was practising with AB and he said I was bowling really well and that it didn’t matter what happened in the last game. It doesn’t mean you didn’t bowl well when things don’t go your way. In this match also, he was backing me from the first ball,” added Aniket Choudhary.

Reflecting back at the time when he was a net bowler in the Indian team nets, Choudhary called it to be the moment of his life. His left arm bowling impressed Virat Kohli and things have been on a merry run for him since then. He noted that the IPL is a big platform for him. Despite the team failing to make it to the playoffs, he cited the tournament as a great learning curve for him on the personal front.

“It was a very good experience (bowling in the nets to the Indian batsmen), if you are bowling to top Indian batsmen and getting them out, that’s where I got noticed by Virat. Once you bowl to the best and get them out, I don’t think there is a better way of gaining confidence than that. After that, whichever domestic competition you go, like when I played Ranji Trophy, I was very confident. It appeared a lot easier then,” Choudhary said.

“Definitely, it’s (IPL) a big platform for me to learn. First time I am getting to play in IPL. I have been learning a lot this season as am getting to play with some of the big names. We are out of contention (for play-offs) but if you perform well in the remaining matches, you will get confidence and do better next year. It will also beneficial in your career going forward,” the left-armer conceded further.