‘Bowl fifth stump line’: Himanshu Sangwan reveals how a bus driver’s advice helped him dismiss Virat Kohli in Ranji Trophy

Fast bowler Himanshu Sangwan, who recently dismissed Virat Kohli in a Ranji Trophy match, has revealed that it was the Railways's team bus driver who gave him a strategic advice to get the star batsman out.

The driver suggested him to bowl a fifth-stump line to the seasoned Indian batter. However, the Railway’s ace pacer remarked that he did not want to rely on his opponent’s weaknesses but rather bowl to his strengths.

On January 31, Sangwan clean bowled Kohli after just six runs in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways.

In a post-match interview with Hindustan Times, Sangwan said: “Before the match, there were talks about Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant going to play for Delhi. At the time, we didn’t know that the match would be aired live. We slowly learned that Rishabh Pant wouldn’t play, but Virat would, and the match would be streamed live. I am leading the Railways’ pace attack. Every team member told me that they thought I would dismiss Virat Kohli.”

“The bus in which we were travelling, even the bus driver told me that you know that you need to bowl at the fourth-fifth stump line to Virat Kohli, and then he will get out. I had self-belief. I just wanted to focus on my own strengths rather than someone else’s weaknesses. I bowled to my strengths and ended up getting the wicket,” he added.

Kohli's eagerly awaited return to the Ranji Trophy ended in disappointment as Delhi secured a commanding innings and 19-run victory over Railways, but still fell short of qualifying for the quarterfinals.