India's Dinesh Karthik today had
some encouraging words for Basil Thampi, saying the young
Kerala pacer has the "ammunition" to achieve success in T20
Internationals.
The 24-year-old had earlier impressed West Indian
allrounder Dwayne Bravo with his exploits in the IPL for
Gujarat Lions.
"He's a very, very good talent. He's sharp, he bowls
quick and is somebody who can execute yorkers very
consistently, and that's probably one of his biggest
strengths," Karthik said on the eve of the first T20 between
India and Sri Lanka here.
"He has a good slower ball as well. He has all the
ammunition required to play the T20 format and I'm sure he
will do really well," he added.
The latest pacer to come from Kerala, Thampi had a
perfect IPL debut for Gujarat Lions, taking 11 wickets in 12
games with a best of 3/29 to be adjudged 'Emerging Player of
2017'.
He bowled yorkers at will and Bravo was quick to notice
the youngster's talent.
"I would say he will get the opportunity to play for Team
India in a year or so. He has the talent, obviously, but he
also has a lot of heart, pace and the skill. He's always
willing to learn," Bravo had said.
Within a year, Thampi was seen bowling to the likes of
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma during India's training
session on the eve of their three-T20I series opener at the
Barabati Stadium.
With the Indian pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik
Pandya skipping the optional practice session along with
Shreyas Iyer, Thampi was in the spotlight along with the likes
of Mohammad Siraj and Jaydev Unadkat.
Thampi's allround show (four-wicket match haul and 60
runs) recently helped Kerala secure a historic Ranji Trophy
quarterfinal berth.
Thampi has trained under Glenn McGrath and M
Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation.
PTI
