Dinesh Salunkhe featured in just six games for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2008, but it was enough to create an impression on Aussie legend Shane Warne.
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When the Indian Premier League began in 2008, there were plenty of local players from India who got a massive platform. They jumped from club to international level in a big way. One of them was a legspinner from Mumbai, who had won a reality show called Cricket Star. He got a chance to play alongside his idol. Although, he got a chance in only six games, he made an impact. His only IPL wicket was Mahela Jayawardene, considered the best player of spin. With the bat, he had the audacity to paddle scoop Glenn McGrath at the Arun Jaitley stadium.
It was THAT paddle scoop off McGrath, one of the greatest bowlers in the world, which made him a talking point. For ages, no one had attempted such audacity against the Australian pacer. In this period, paddle sweeps, scoop shots are all common. But in 2008, Dinesh Salunkhe gave a first glimpse of this novel shot. In many ways, he was the pioneer of that shot. However, in the glamour of AB de Villiers and other star players who execute these shots regularly, Salunkhe is a forgotten individual. But, Salunkhe wanted to enjoy the moment.
In 2008, he was part of the Rajasthan Royals team that won the title in grand style. Salunkhe may have played only six games, but he left a deep impression on Warne. In the Aussie’s autobiography ‘No Spin’, Warne mentioned the talent of Salunkhe in a page.
Life from the high of 2008 went quickly downhill in 2009. Salunkhe was dropped, suffered a shoulder injury, came back in 2015 after five years of hardships but never played a game. However, in an exclusive chat with sportslumo.com, Salunkhe opened up on those few moments of happiness and how he has coped with life in the coronavirus pandemic.
In the third match of IPL 2008, Rajasthan Royals were in deep trouble at 93/7. Salunkhe was nervous when he came in. However, in an audacious display, he smashed four boundaries and scored 26 off 20. One of the boundaries was the paddle scoop off McGrath. Salunkhe talked about that incident and stated how he got help from former Australia coach Darren Lehmann.
“I have an interesting story behind that shot. The dressing room was on top. Darren Lehmann saw that I was tense. He came and talked with me. He told me that McGrath was bowling at speeds of over 120 mph. I started thinking a lot when I came out to bat. Luckily, I had attempted a paddle scoop and fortunately it came off,” Salunkhe said.
When Salunkhe was picked in the Rajasthan Royals side, he hugged his idol Shane Warne. When asked whether he regrets the limited opportunities that he got, Salunkhe was philosophical.
“I started legspin only because of Shane Warne. He was my idol. I had one aspiration in life that I wanted to meet him. I feel lucky that I played cricket with him. Shane Warne was a legend. He was going to play anyways. You are sharing one end with Warne, what more can you ask? If anyone asks what is my dream year, it is 2008. My ultimate happiness is when I was mentioned in one page in Shane Warne’s autobiography. In that, he said I had talent but unfortunately did not get much chances. It was a very positive point,” Salunkhe said.
The current talent pool that exists in India has tremendous depth. Players are arriving on the international stage with tremendous confidence due to the IPL. Salunkhe, though, has two sides of the story. He says the local representation of franchises is not like 2008. However, he stresses the point that Indian cricketers can now play fearlessly only because of the IPL.
“Talent-wise, India is so solid. Thanks to IPL, the talent that is coming out of India is phenomenal. International players are playing with you. If you play in the IPL with them, the fear is gone. IPL has given a tremendous platform for Indian cricket. If you do well in the IPL, the whole world will notice you,” Salunkhe said.
However, the coronavirus pandemic has stalled life. Salunkhe, who now has his cricket academy, says only five people are allowed into his academy. He cannot get to the ground. He is somehow trying to survive and make do with what is best available. “I have spent 20 years of my life in the cricket ground. For two years, I have not had the chance to go to the cricket ground. You obviously get nervous. The routine has to change. Working out at home. It is a very frustrating time for all of us.,” Salunkhe said.
Salunkhe is a largely forgotten figure in Indian cricket. But, his audacity for a brief period in 2008 makes him a pioneer. It is just that his star power is not so bright.
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