Virat Kohli praises the throwdown specialists for putting a major role in what he is today

Virat Kohli has credited the team’s throw-down trio of D Raghvendra, Nuwan Seneviratne, and Dayanand Garani for making a big difference to his batting, the throw-down experts use a sidearm, cricketing gear looking like a long spoon, to heave the ball at fast to test the batters at nets.

India’s great Virat Kohli has credited the team’s throw-down trio of D Raghvendra, Nuwan Seneviratne, and Dayanand Garani for making a “big difference” to his batting. 

The throw-down experts use a sidearm, cricketing gear looking like a long spoon, to heave the ball fast (in the range of 140-150kmph) to test the batters at nets.

“All three of them have given us world-class practice every time we play. They challenge us in the nets like any 145 or 150kmph pace bowlers. They always try to get us out and make sure that they test us regularly,”

Kohli told young Indian opener Shubman Gill in an interaction on BCCI.tv after the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram.

“At times, it feels very intense. For me that has been the difference in my career, to be very honest… From where I was as a cricketer before I started getting this kind of practice to where I am today.” 

Karnataka’s Raghavendra, who is fondly known as ‘Raghu’ joined the BCCI from the National Cricket Academy and was the first to join Team India. He would regularly give throw-downs to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and former Indian skipper MS Dhoni.

India then hired left-handed Sri Lankan Seneviratne in 2018 to help them prepare for left-arm pacers.

A civic worker in Kolkata Police, Dayanand, who was with Kings XI Punjab, was roped in by Team India after Raghu tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 and has turned into a permanent support staff since then.

“A lot of credit has gone to these guys, who have given us practice regularly and their contribution has been unbelievable. You guys should remember their names and faces because, behind our success, a lot of effort has been put in by these guys,”

Kohli said.

Gill, who was interviewing Kohli, was quick to add:

“These three combined would have had 1200 to 1500 wickets. They prepare us for all kinds of conditions heading into the match.”

India defeated Sri Lanka by 317 runs in the final ODI to secure the series 3-0, with Kohli notching two hundred from three matches.

Terming it an ideal start to the ODI World Cup year, Kohli said:

“It’s been a great start. It’s been a while since I started the year like this… getting a hundred and then scoring two hundred in the series and also becoming the Man of the Series.” “I am just happy that in the World Cup year, I can start like this, and I know I can be consistent. When I start like this and I start feeling confident, then things usually go well,”

he said.

“The team is gelling well as a batting unit; you guys have been phenomenal at the top.”

Kohli went on to congratulate Gill for scoring his first century at home as the youngster converted his start to make a sublime 116 off 97 balls.

“Congratulations on your first hundred in India. You deserved to get one in the first match. Today also you played phenomenally well and many more at home and away will come in the future.” “I enjoyed batting with Shubman. We haven’t batted for very long many times. But today was the day where we had a good partnership and it helped the team as well,”

said Kohli.

The duo shared 131 runs for the second wicket as India posted a massive 390/5 before skittling out Sri Lanka for 73.

“It was disappointing to get out in the first ODI. I was looking to go big in that match, but unfortunately, nahi ho paaya (could not).

“In Kolkata too, I was playing well but failed to convert my start. Aaj yahi tha ki agar starts milta hai to lamba jaane ki koshish karunga (Today I just wanted to take it deep). I have felt in Test matches as well that I left a bit of a run there.” 

Crediting Kohli for motivating him and changing the tempo of the match, Gill said:

“While we were in the middle, you told me that today I am going to score big and you changed the rhythm right from the word go.”