Prithvi Raj Yarra, the left-arm seamer from Andhra Pradesh, has expressed a strong preference for playing under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma rather than MS Dhoni. In an exclusive interview with Cricadium, Yarra shared his admiration for both cricketers but emphasized the unique learning opportunities he believes he would gain from Rohit.
Learning from Legends
Yarra recounted a memorable experience with MS Dhoni during the Champions Trophy preparation in 2017 or 2018. He had the chance to bowl to Dhoni in the nets, an opportunity he described as one of his best learning experiences. He said, “I was very lucky to have the opportunity to bowl to him in the nets and it was one of the best learning experiences for me personally.” However, he stated, “I’d like to play under Rohit Sharma as a captain over MS Dhoni… I just want to play under Rohit Sharma also and get that quality time and learn from him as well.”
Despite his preference for Rohit, Yarra quickly acknowledged his respect for Dhoni. When asked if he would like to play under Dhoni, he responded, “Of course, I’d love to play under him (MS Dhoni). Why won’t I want to play under one of the greatest cricketing minds?”
Insights from KKR Experience
Prithvi Raj Yarra’s journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) includes stints with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). During his time at KKR, he played two matches and took one wicket. He credited Dinesh Karthik for helping him overcome his initial nervousness upon joining the team. “The first time I entered the KKR camp, and I met DK Anna, he came to me and spoke to me in Telugu, just to make me feel comfortable. He told me how the KKR scouts had been looking at my performances in domestic cricket over the last two years, and that I should just go out there and express myself in the field,” Yarra recalled.
He also praised the support staff at KKR, including legends like Jacques Kallis and Simon Katich. “Not just DK Anna, the support staff was also helpful. Simon Katich, Jacques Kallis, and Abhishek Nayar Anna were all there and they made sure that I was in the right spirit of mind,” he stated.
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Praise for Hanuma Vihari and Nitish Kumar Reddy
When discussing leadership, Yarra highlighted Hanuma Vihari, the former Andhra captain, as his best captain to date. “Vihari is someone who is very passionate. He is one of the best captains I’ve played under. He can find a way to win matches from any situation,” he stated. Although Ricky Bhui is currently leading the team, Yarra emphasized Vihari’s ongoing influence: “Even though Ricky Bhui is the captain now, Vihari Anna is the leader.”
Yarra also spoke fondly of Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently made his debut for India. He praised Reddy’s dedication and fitness level: “He (Nitish Kumar Reddy) is one of the fittest cricketers I have ever seen… His house was 30 kms away from the ground. His dad used to bring him every day on a bike to the Cricket Academy.” He added that it was heartwarming to see Reddy succeed: “I was very happy to see him finally make it. His family was very tightly bound.”
Nitish recently made his debut for India during the T20I series against Bangladesh. In the 3 games that he has played, Nitish scored 90 runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate in excess of 180. He also scored his maiden half-century during the second T20I against Bangladesh and also managed to pick up 3 wickets during the 3 games.
Playing Under Gautam Gambhir
While concluding the interview, Prithvi Raj Yarra expressed a desire to play under Gautam Gambhir. He noted Gambhir’s calm demeanour combined with aggression as qualities he admires: “I would really love to play under him because of the way he brings in his coolness, his calmness along with his aggression… I think it would be really nice to play under him and get some ideas from him.”
For more insights on Prithvi Raj Yarra’s thoughts on cricketing legends like Zaheer Khan and Virat Kohli, viewers can check out the full interview on Cricadium’s YouTube page.
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