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IPL 2017: It’s an honour to play with MS Dhoni, says Imran Tahir after Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Tahir opened up on a few things with some interesting statements. Tahir started by praising Dhoni's match-winning knock of 61 off just 34 balls.

Imran Tahir picked a crucial wicket of Shikhar Dhawan against SRH © BCCI
Imran Tahir picked a crucial wicket of Shikhar Dhawan against SRH © BCCI

Rising Pune Supergiant’s (RPS) spinner Imran Tahir says it is an honour to share dressing room with a great cricketer like MS Dhoni. Tahir bowled only 3 overs and gave away 23 runs and picked a crucial wicket of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Shikhar Dhawan during their clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After registering their third win in the 10th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), Tahir opened up on a few things with some interesting statements. Tahir started by praising Dhoni’s match-winning knock of 61 off just 34 balls. FULL CRICKET SCORES: RPS vs SRH, Match 24

“I don’t have words. He played very well and Dhoni is known for playing in this type of situations. It was unbelievable to watch from Tripathi first and then Dhoni. We are also excited that we will get to see Dhoni playing in similar fashion. It was a great knock,” said Tahir, as quoted by PTI.

When asked about his experience of sharing dressing room with a great personality like Dhoni, Tahir said, “It is absolutely an honour. What a humble and nice person he is and it’s been lovely to play with him. I try as much as things I can share with him because he has got a lot of experience. To be honest, I am loving every moment and I am sure it’s every cricketer’s dream to play with MS Dhoni. And it’s a great opportunity, thanks to IPL. I got into Pune and then play with him. It has been really going well with him. I hope it carries on.”

Being a leg spinner, Tahir has faced many situations where he had to bowl on flat pitches where no turn is on offer. Talking about that factor, Tahir opined, “It is all about mind games. If pitch is not offering turn and still you are trying to legbreak and leaking runs, then you are actually going against your team plan or your own plan. In my view, you can only success by sticking to yours plans because if wicket is not allowing turn and still trying for legbreak, you will get hit as per my thinking. If legbreak is happening then definitely go for it. But I am also a bit lucky that I am a leg spinner because of variations and we have to use it quite intelligently. So, legbreak should be done only according to the conditions and plan.”

Further, Tahir also added that T20 is a format which has made spinners more perfect as batsman are expected to deal in fours and sixes very often. “In my view, we are aware of the fact that people love watching sixes and fours. They have no idea what we have to go through. But since it is part of our job and the way T20 cricket has been designed, it benefits bowlers as they become more perfect. And as we all know that bats are thicker these days and because of those things, it is a good challenge for bowlers,” Tahir said.

At the end, Tahir shared something interesting when asked about sharing knowledge with other bowlers. He started by saying nobody taught him anything but he likes to share with the other bowlers. Tahir did not name the player with whom he has shared his knowledge after the match but he probably indicated towards Afghanistan sensation Rashid Khan and said, “Nobody taught me on my bowling. I wouldn’t name any one, but there were many people whom I sought help but none did. But I like to share my knowledge till the time I am playing and contributing to the game by any means. Even now, I went to SRH’s dressing room to ask him, although he is currently bowling better than me. But then he also asked something from me, which I knew and shared with him. So I think, by sharing, you earn more.”

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