'Dad, can you please ask me not to go to university?'
Ish Sodhi, in an interview with Mark Geenty for Fairfax NZ News, talks about his love for cricket, his bowling style, and his rise through the ranks
15-Sep-2013
New Zealand allrounder Ish Sodhi has had a meteoric rise since making his first-class debut in 2012. A strong domestic showing for Northern Districts in 2012-13 where he picked up 20 wickets from 10 matches not only earned Sodhi a call-up to the A team, but also won him praise from the likes of Daniel Vettori and Paul Wiseman, writes Mark Geenty for Fairfax NZ News.
It's been a frighteningly fast rise for someone not yet 21. His first-class debut was 10 months ago, for Northern Districts in Hamilton. In 12 matches he's taken 22 wickets at 48.The numbers might not tell a story but the experts can. Vettori, recovering from achilles tendon surgery, was a fan from day one. On the eve of New Zealand's test win in Hobart in 2011 he was asked about the country's spin stocks. He listed the usual suspects then his eyes lit up, labelling Sodhi the best New Zealand prospect he'd seen after facing him in the nets. Paul Wiseman, the former test offspinner tasked with bolstering New Zealand's spin stocks, mentored Sodhi as he progressed through the national under-19 side last year. He disputes Sodhi's claim he can't bowl offspin, and says he's so talented he can even bowl the offspinner's variation, the doosra.