BGT 2023 | Got Steve Smith out 6 times on the first day of camp: Mahesh Pithiya
Mahesh Pithiya [Source: Twitter]
Baroda spinner Mahesh Pithiya gained instant limelight after the Australian team called upon him to bowl in their four-day camp in Alur ahead of the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.
Pithiya, who made his First-Class debut last year, resembles India's premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who the touring nation wanted to get accustomed to.
Speaking to PTI, Pithiya revealed that he cleaned up Steve Smith as many as six times on his first day in camp and that his main job was to bowl at the star batter only.
Now travelling with the Australian side as a net bowler, he also spoke about his interaction with Ashwin.
Here's what Pithiya said
"Got Smith out at least six times in the nets on first day. It has been amazing to work with this Australian side. My job is to mainly bowl to Smith at Australia nets. He didn't ask me to bowl anything specific. When I met him as he was entering the nets, I touched his feet and sought his blessings. He hugged me and then asked what exactly am I bowling to the Australians."
Pithiya, who does not have as many variations as Ashwin, explained that he only dished out off-spinners in the net and had life-changing talks with Nathan Lyon over the last few days.
The off-spinner will stay with the Australian side till the end of the Delhi Test.
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