HOLDER’S TALL FEATS AND SHANKAR’S PATH TO SELECTION

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s allrounder and West Indies skipper Jason Holder has shown that he can provide vital breakthroughs when he bagged three crucial wickets against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday and two wickets on Saturday against Kings XI Punjab. He is a soft- spoken man with mannerisms that give the impression of a non- aggressive person. Many were skeptical whether he would make a good captain when he was picked by the West Indies selection panel. Holder was only 23 years old then but proved to be a shrewd captain possessing excellent knowledge of the game. At 6ft 7 inches, Holder is among the tallest cricketers in the game today. When he hit a double century against England last year, statisticians pointed out that he was the tallest man ever to crack a double ton in Test cricket. Many believe that he will go on to become the world’s finest all- rounder.

SHANKAR GAVE UP OFF- SPIN FOR SELECTION

Sunrisers Hyderabad allrounder Vijay Shankar has regained his form cracking a half century against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday and also bowling well. He was the second top scorer for Hyderabad against Kings XI Punjab. Shankar used to bowl offspin till the age of 20. It was his desire to play for Tamil Nadu in Ranji Trophy that pushed him to change to medium pace. The Tamil Nadu team was then filled with excellent spinners and he wasn’t sure about getting picked. Last year he was picked to play in the World Cup and became only the third bowler to take a wicket with his first delivery in the World Cup when he dismissed Pakistan’s Imam Ul Haq. Incidentally, Shankar was injured for the last two matches of the World Cup, and Mayank Agarwal, with whom he put on a match- winning partnership against Rajasthan on Thursday, was named his replacement.