‘The moment I knew I could thrive in death overs’ – Sandeep Sharma recalls how an over to MS Dhoni became turning point of his career [Exclusive]

Sandeep Sharma started his Indian Premier League (IPL) career as an effective bowler inside the powerplay because of his ability to swing the ball both ways. However, over the years, he has developed himself into a reliable bowler in the death overs, churning out some match-winning spells for his teams.

During IPL 2025, Sharma bowled some brilliant spells for Rajasthan Royals at the back end of innings. His ability to nail yorkers under pressure and mix it up with slower deliveries always kept the power hitters in the opposition lineups guessing.

During an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Sharma was asked about the moment which gave him confidence to bowl at the death. The Chandigarh seamer recalled a game against Chennai Super Kings from IPL 2025. Rajasthan Royals faced Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

CSK needed 21 runs off the last six balls with Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni at the crease. Both the experienced finishers were well set, firing on all cyclinders. Sharma bowled two wides to start the over, with Dhoni on strike. The first legitimate delivery of the over was a dot but the next two went for sixes. However, Sharma didn’t let the pressure get to him, as he gave away just three singles off the last three balls of the over to take his team to victory.

“I think couple of years back when I was playing in Chennai and MSD was batting and the last over that I bowled against him. It’s that over was the highlight because we won the match, but otherwise in Chennai, I have bowled in death before. I would say I have bowled better than that, but that was the highlight. When you get 5-6 runs on the last ball and when you bowl well, obviously that highlight is more. As a bowler, you get more confidence, where Jaddu and MSD both were playing. And if you save that match, obviously as a bowler, confidence is boosting. And that was the moment, that was the match where I felt that yes, I can be successful on this journey, where I am starting my career of death bowling, where I am bowling more in death now,” Sharma said.

“Like before, I used to bowl an odd over like this. But now I am bowling more after 10 overs. Last year, most of the overs were like after 10 overs. My first over was 6th over, which is like I feel the toughest over of the match. And after that, the 3 overs, I was bowling after 10 overs. I used to bowl in the last 10 overs. So now the rule has completely changed. Earlier I used to bowl in 3 overs, earlier in 10 overs. Now I am bowling in the last 10 overs. But yes, that was the moment from where my confidence and my trust and belief was more confirmed that yes, I can do this job for my team. And from there on, obviously, it has been really good for me. The overs that I am bowling, it has been really good. So that too, obviously, when you keep doing well, you get more and more trust and belief on your skillset, on your execution,” he added.

Don’t think too much about outcome and the future – Sandeep Sharma reveals best piece of advised received from MS Dhoni

Sharma has often been spotted interacting with Dhoni after Rajasthan Royals’ clash with CSK. He was asked to reveal the best piece of advise he received from the former India captain. Sharma said that Dhoni asked him to try and execute his plans to the best of his abilitiy without worrying about the outcome.

“Obviously, I have been so many times with him on the field when he’s talking with young cricketers and to me, so many people or maybe senior cricketers also who have played enough cricket, they come and listen to his wise advices. But for me, it has been always one. If I have to pick one, it’s about to stay in moment. Don’t think too much about outcome and the future,” Sharma said.

“Suppose I’ll give you an example. Suppose if I’m bowling with a new ball. Suppose if I’m going to bowl the first ball. So what is staying in moment is like first ball, I’m going to bowl. And after that, I start feeling my release point. I start thinking about that process. How I bowl a good length ball which comes that in deeper hits the stump. That’s all. After that, what is future? After that, I should not be thinking, oh, if I miss the in swing, if it goes on pads, batsman will flick it or score runs. That is like future and not being in into that moment. Into that moment means you just think about what you’re going to do. And after that, just think the process, how I’m going to do it. That’s all. And that has been, I feel, the best advice I got,” he explained.

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