Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has named England and Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders' latest acquisition Tom Banton as the toughest batsman to bowl so far.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, Delhi Capital’s young spin sensation had an Instagram Live session with his IPL team, where he spoke about several thing both on and off the field including home quarantine, his cricketing journey, idols while growing up and much more.
Read Also: CSK says no to IPL 2020 without foreign cricketers, says “no point in Indians only IPL”
Well, Lamichhane revealed Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar as his idols, however, his choice as the toughest batsman to bowl was a surprising one for all.
Banton hogged the limelight in the 2019 edition of the T20 Blast, while representing Somerset and then Australia’s Big Bash League with the Brisbane Heat – which earned him England call for the New Zealand tour for the T20I series. Earlier this year, he made his ODI debut against South Africa in February.
The 21-year-old has also earned his maiden IPL call-up in December after being picked at his base price of INR 1 crore by the KKR for the IPL 2020, which is now suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Lamichhane who plays franchise cricket across the world has already played against Banton during the last BBL, leaking as many as 19 runs in an over as the Brisbane Heat star smashed Melbourne Stars’ mystery spinner for 2 fours and a six of consecutive deliveries.
Well, explain his choice, Lamichhane, who played six games and picked up eight wickets in IPL 2019 for the DC, said Banton can not only smash the spinners, but also the pacers as well with equal brutality.
Lamichhane said during the interaction: “I think Tom Banton. He is a new sensation with so many cricketing shots in his book… He smashes not only the spinners but also the fast bowlers.”
Noteworthy, Banton has already won the hearts with his innovative strokeplay, along with his mastered art of playing scoops and reverse sweeps and was to again stun Lamichhane in the IPL 2020.
(With ANI Inputs)
