Suyash Sharma had a fairly successful season with the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023. In 11 matches, he claimed 10 wickets at an economy of 8.23.

Last season, the leg spinner got to play only two matches without much success and KKR decided to release him at the auction. The move to RCB this season has been a fruitful one, as Suyash showed his skills during their convincing victory over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday.

He came in to bowl at a critical stage with Punjab tottering at 59/5. It was only natural that batters like Shashank Singh would have preferred to attack him and break his rhythm.

But Suyash, 22, showed discipline and claimed two wickets in his very first over.

First, Shashank misread his googly, and then Impact Player Musheer Khan survived only three balls against him. Suyash finished with 3/17 from three overs, his best IPL figures, to hasten Punjab's doom.

Suyash later said that clarity of thought had helped him achieve success in such a high-stakes match. Punjab's dream run thus suffered a brutal reality check in their own backyard.

"The coaches have told me just one thing - I have to hit the stumps, it doesn't matter whether I bowl a googly, legbreak, or flipper," Suyash said after being named the Player of the Match.

"There was some help from the pitch. I think that's why my googly wasn't easy to pick."

There is no doubt that Suyash's deceptive action and variations have posed a challenge to the batters. Suyash has always been tough to pick for the batters. He had burst onto the scene with no first-class or List A experience but has already proved his worth against the best.

"There was some help from the pitch. I think that's why my googly wasn't easy to pick."

There is no doubt that Suyash's deceptive action and variations have posed a challenge to the batters. Suyash has always been tough to pick for the batters. He had burst onto the scene with no first-class or List A experience but has already proved his worth against the best.