Rajkot, April 15:
It was worth the wait for Australian pacer Andrew Tye, who possibly couldn’t have asked for a better IPL debut after sitting in the dug-out for 34 matches across three editions and two teams.
Tye was also a part of the banned Chennai Super Kings outfit but mainly warmed the benches for two seasons.
He didn’t even get a game last season for the Gujarat Lions before his match-winning 5 for 17 including a hat-trick against Rising Pune Supergiant.
“I have waited for 34 matches to get my IPL debut but I wasn’t overawed or under pressure. I got a few wickets and it could not have been better debut for me,” an elated Tye said after the match.
Waiting in the wings can be frustrating but Tye has no complaints as he reckons that he has only become a better bowler.
“IPL is a great platform to develop one’s game under great coaches. Despite not getting a chance in playing eleven, I knew once the process is completed, I will get a chance, and when I was given a chance, I played without any pressure.”
Tye was satisfied with his execution of slower deliveries which enabled him to take a match-winning five-wicket-haul including a hat-trick on debut against Rising Pune Supergiant in an IPL encounter, yesterday.
“Slower ball was my best ball in the match and I’m happy that it worked on the wicket,” Tye said after the match.
It was a dream debut for Tye whose 5 for 17 in 4 overs went a long way in restricting Supergiants to a manageable total.
“I quickly realised that slower ball is sticking (gripping) on this wicket and making difficult for batsmen”, Tye told mediapersons.
Ben Stokes’ wicket was important was very important one and made him happy.
“I enjoyed taking wicket of Ben Stokes. He (Stokes) played well, played some good shots and looked dangerous and to get him out at the right time was a good thing.”
With Samuel Badree of RCB also taking a hat-trick albeit ib a losing cause yesterday, Tye said that it was reassuring to know that bowlers also existed in T20’s.
“It’s very rare that two bowlers taking hattricks on a same day, which proved that the shortest format of the game is not completely for the batsmen.”
Rising Puine Supergiant opener Rahul Tripathi, who gave his team a good start lauded Tye for his change-ups.
“I think on this wicket, changing the pace was very important and Tye did it well and his performance made the big difference,” Tripathi said.
Tripathi was instructed by his skipper Steve Smith to go after the bowling but losing wickets at regular intervals became their undoing.
“Smith told me to keep going on (after lossing Rahane) and we got the momentum in first six overs, but lost the momentum by losing wickets regularly.” PTI
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