Chennai Super Kings pacer Simarjeet Singh, the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Delhi Premier League, has credited former India captain MS Dhoni for his development as a T20 bowler. The 26-year-old, who has taken 15 wickets for East Delhi Riders in the DPL, has impressed with his back-of-the-length deliveries, claiming crucial wickets like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, and Sanju Samson in CSK’s match against Rajasthan Royals last IPL.
Simarjeet believes that Dhoni’s guidance has been instrumental in his growth as a T20 bowler. “MS Dhoni has helped me to develop myself as a better T20 bowler. I don’t think nobody else knows more about T20 cricket than him,” Simarjeet told PTI videos in an exclusive interview. He emphasizes Dhoni’s ability to simplify the game, saying, “He (MS Dhoni) has taught me a lot; it’s not just one thing he has helped me with. We keep asking him for advice, and he always simplifies things by saying playing simple cricket is the best.”
With the senior players returning to the domestic arena from the 2024-25 season, Simarjeet is eagerly looking forward to learning from their experience and improving his overall game. “I just want to learn and when senior India players come and play domestic cricket, we get to learn a lot from them,” he expressed.
Ahead of the next IPL auction, Simarjeet remains focused on honing his skills. “I just want to play cricket. My focus is on contributing wherever I’m selected and growing as a cricketer with whichever franchise picks me,” he stated. As one of the senior players in the East Delhi Riders team, Simarjeet is also actively involved in guiding and nurturing young talent. He sees this as a valuable opportunity for local players to earn their maiden state call-up. “Youngsters come to me and plan their strategies for every game. I think it is a very good opportunity for players in Delhi to showcase their skills and talent and earn a maiden domestic call up,” he concluded.
