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Cricket PlayersShane Warne at first said 'we don't need you'. Later told me 'you are my man': Former Rajasthan Royals pacer
A Pakistan fast bowler recalled his first meeting with Shane Warne and how on the back of a good showing, he was able to change the Aussie legend's initial perception of him.
The late great Shane Warne was instrumental in putting the Indian Premier League on the map. During the very first edition of the IPL way back in 2008, Warne, who had retired from international cricket the year before, turned up to captain Rajasthan Royals, and led the team who no one gave a chance to the title. Which is why in a fitting tribute, this year in IPL 2022, as RR reached the final for the second time, the franchise and everyone involved paid a moving tribute to the Aussie great.
Several cricketers, who were part of the RR set-up back in 2008, shared their memories of working with Shane Warne, and the unanimous verdict was that he was a gem of a leader and person. Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir, who was the Purple Cap winner that year with 22 wickets from 11 matches, recalled his first meeting with Warne and how on the back of a good showing, he was able to change the Aussie legend’s initial perception of him.
"I was in Pakistan when the team manager told me 'Shane Warne is saying that we don't need you right now. When we do, we will call you'. The owner called and told me that everyone has to assemble with the team. Then I flew to Hyderabad, and next morning during breakfast, I met Warne for the first time. He told me 'You have just come. You're obviously not playing today’s match but we will see from there.'" Tanvir told Capital TV.
The Pakistan quick was among a few Pakistan players picked for the IPL. Besides winning the Purple Cap, Tanvir produced a magical spell of 6/14 against Chennai Super Kings, a record which stood tall for 11 years before West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph bettered by claiming 6/12 for Mumbai Indians against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2022. Going on to reveal how Warne seemed impressed by him, Tanvir said it was during a net session when he first caught the Australia legend's attention, and later when he performed well in the following game, he had become Warne's go-to-bowler.
"Warne had not seen me because he had retired from international cricket and he was probably not following it much either. We went to Bangalore; he saw me in the nets playing and told me 'Be ready'. In the next match, I bowled well and picked up 2/26. After that match, he came to me and said 'you are my man'. So, at first, he said we don’t need you and later told me 'you are my man'. He instilled a lot of confidence during the remainder of the IPL," added Tanvir.
