This IPL is set to be remembered as a season of comebacks. It was astonishing to see some of the veterans of Indian cricket getting a chance this season and winning the hearts of millions of cricket lovers. The likes of Piyush Chawla, Sandeep Sharma, and Ajinkye Rahane who were dismissed and forgotten by spectators not only revived but also reestablished themselves in the big stage. Rahane even got a team India call-up in the forthcoming WTC finale.
But, my today's story is about Mohit Sharma who was a net ball bowler in the previous season and became the second-highest wicket-taker in this season's IPL. This is a massive story of grit, determination and willpower.
Mohit Sharma went into a storm due to age and out form. Mohit, who once performed regularly for Chennai in the IPL, suddenly disappeared. Even though he had the opportunity to play one match each in the 2019 and 2020 editions of the IPL respectively, his biggest setback came in the 2021 IPL when no team showed interest in acquiring him during the auction. Thus, he went unsold.
Two new teams joined the tournament in the 2022 IPL, one of them being Gujarat Titans. The head coach of the team is former Chennai teammate of Mohit Sharma and former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra.
Nehra ji suddenly contacted Mohit Sharma, who had gone unsold in the previous edition, offering him to be the net bowler for the Gujarat Titans team. Mohit also agreed to Nehra ji's offer without a second thought, and this was perhaps the best decision of Mohit's life!
Gujarat won their first tournament, and in the second tournament, they included net bowler Mohit Sharma in the main team. Coach Ashish Nehra is an experienced person who doesn't forget someone like a golden-eyed eagle, and he didn't forget Mohit either.
The 34-year-old Mohit got a chance, and when he got the chance, he proved himself. In his first match in this tournament, he proved why he was taken into the team. Then he played 13 matches. Barring one or two matches, Mohit Sharma has bowled brilliantly in almost every match.
After taking four wickets each in two matches, he stunned everyone by single-handedly taking five wickets for just 10 runs in the second qualifier against Mumbai Indians, which became the second-best bowling figures in an IPL playoff match.
In just 2.2 overs, Mohit spun the match in favor of his team in the playoffs against Mumbai. While Shubman Gill was the best player of the match, it was Mohit Sharma who emerged as the hero in the second innings of the match.
Mohit is the second-highest wicket-taker bowler in this year's IPL with 27 wickets! This may be why it is said, this is how you can turn around and this is how you can come back…
Maybe he could not win it for his team yesterday but it is worth remembering that he took three crucial wickets in the grand finale and if he had got support from the likes of Rashid, Shami and Little the result could have been different.