In the ever-evolving landscape of Twenty20 cricket, adaptability is currency. And Ben Dwarshuis, having learned to adjust lengths, angles, and pace variations to suit vastly different conditions, has built his career on exactly that.

Having carved a niche across global leagues, the Australian left-arm seamer now brings a blend of experience and tactical awareness to the high-pressure environment of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

In an exclusive interview with Sports starsthe 31-year-old, wearing the golden crest of Punjab Kings (PBKS), discusses the nuances of death bowling, the value of match-ups, and the constant evolution required to stay relevant in modern cricket.

Q: You’ve built your reputation across leagues like the Big Bash. How has that shaped you as a T20 specialist?

A: Not only the Big Bash, but also playing other leagues around the world sort of allows you to learn and adapt your game to different conditions. It’s no different here. The wickets are obviously different from what they are back home. So, trying to learn, adapt, and work out the best ways to get results over here.

Q: Left-arm seam is a rare commodity. How consciously do you use favourable angles against right-handed-heavy lineups?

A: It’s a key part. It’s one thing that, as you said, there are not a lot of left-armers. So, it’s one point of difference that you do have, which you can use to your advantage. You’d probably be missing a trick if you weren’t trying to exploit that in a way against particular batters where it matches up.

Q: What’s your go-to variation at the death when batters are set?

A: Change of pace.

Trying to bowl yorkers, both wide and straight. As I said before, it’s about being adaptable. For each batter, you’re obviously going to have different plans. Some batters are really strong at waiting on slow balls and hitting that. So, you might bowl a few more yorkers at them.

It’s about doing your research before the game, understanding possible matchups that you’re going to have at the back end, and then just being really clear and executing your plans once you’re there.

Q: How do you adapt between Australian conditions and Indian pitches? The difference is especially stark when it comes to T20 league cricket…

A: Having conversations with some of the Indian players, whether it’s Shreyas (Iyer) or even James Hopes, our bowling coach, who’s been here a few years now.

I’ve been drawing on their experiences—what they’ve seen has worked—and then trying to implement those in the nets.

Whether it’s the particular length that you need to bowl or whether it’s a big change of pace with these slower balls or if it’s faster cutters into the wicket… just experimenting and seeing what works on a day-to-day basis. Obviously, you are also getting feedback from other coaches about what they’re seeing as well. And then, yeah, working out the best plan to try and limit as many runs as possible.

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Q: PBKS already has a menacing left-arm option in Arshdeep Singh. How do you see your role complementing him?

A: We played alongside each other in a practice game the other day. The beauty of a practice game is the relaxed nature. So it was nice to, in the moment, speak to Arshdeep about what he’s thinking and what his plans are. So, you know, obviously trying to learn from him. You know, he’s got an incredible record playing in India and all around the world.

So, anything that I can pick up from him will be greatly beneficial. If there were three or four right-armers in one team, no one would raise a question. So, I guess it’s no different if there are going to be two or three left-armers in a team.

So yeah, just trying to complement him, even if that means that I need to bowl a bit more around the wicket or something to change angle at certain times depending on ground dimensions or whatever it may be.

I think that at almost 32 years of age, I’ve sort of experienced a lot of different roles and can sort of try and fit in wherever I’m needed. So, I’ll try and bring that over the next couple of months.

Q: With multiple overseas all-rounders in the squad, how do you ensure you remain a first-choice pick?

A: Yeah, it’s hard. I guess it starts at training. Bowling well, batting well, getting your fielding done. It’s trying to be an all-round package and showing the coaches and captain what you can do day in, day out. And then if you do get an opportunity in the XI, it’s obviously going to be some tough competition to retain a spot with the squad that we have. So when you do get an opportunity, it’s about performing well and making it really hard to sort of miss out at the selection table.

Q: So, have you been trying to have a go with the bat as well inside the nets here?

A: Trying to; it’s tough to get a hit. It’s a big squad, and everybody likes to try and hit for as long as possible, but it’s been nice to have a few sessions. I guess it’s about trying and impressing a few people now. Doing what you can to not only show what you can do but also become a better cricketer.

Q: If given the Impact Player role, do you prepare differently when compared to being a starter?

A: I mean, for my particular role, I don’t think so. If I’m going to be an impact player, it’s going to be coming in to bowl my four overs, which is my main skill anyway. So, for any game, that’s what I’m going to be preparing to do—whether it’s as an impact player or as a starting player. So, no real difference there.

On game day, preparation is a little bit different. When you’re not starting, you might have to alter how you go about gameday. But apart from that, I think, you know, all the lead-in and the preps should be pretty similar.

Q: How do you plan for batters who line you up early—do you stick to plans or change quickly?

A: It’s game situation-dependent. If it’s 15 and over to win, you might hold a little bit longer. If it’s a bit tighter, you might need to try and change something up a bit sooner. So, I think in general, you go into the game with, you know, not only plan A, but you’ve also got plans B and C.

You’ve only got 24 balls to bowl as a bowler. So, you’ve got to be pretty quick in changing according to what the batter is doing. And sometimes it’s as simple as thinking if a batter has got the edge over you, just using the best ball to get his wicket.

Q: What’s the toughest phase to bowl in during the IPL—PowerPlay, Middle Overs, or Death?

A: Look, I like bowling in the PowerPlay. It’s obviously a nice challenge and one that brings wickets, but it can also bring a lot of runs. But when the ball’s moving, I can swing the ball. So, trying to use that skill to the best of my advantage.

After that, I’m happy to bowl anywhere, whether it’s two at the top and then one in the middle, one at the end, or two and two, whatever the split may be. Yeah, it’s about being ready to go whenever they decide to throw the ball to you.

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Q: Opportunities to be in Australia’s T20I XI haven’t come as often as you would have wanted them to. Is that something that constantly plays on your mind?

A: No, I wouldn’t say that constantly plays on my mind. It’s been a real privilege over the last couple of years to play as much T20 cricket for Australia as I have. There have been some mixed results along the way. There are a few balls that I’d like back. But all in all, obviously, the Australian cricket team’s a very strong side and one that’s tough to get into.

So competition’s fierce, and there are a handful of bowlers who are all vying for a similar spot and role. What’s happened in the past has gone, and now I’m just trying to put good performances on the board going forward to try and continue to push my case for selection.

Q: Do you feel overseas players need to offer more versatility now to secure a place in an IPL XI?

A: Yeah. You’re always going to have to try and improve your game. It’s obviously such strong competition, and the local Indian players are so strong; there’s a world where you could play only two or three overseas players and have a strong team anyway. So, competition’s fierce, and you’re always going to need to be getting better.

The power hitting at the end is something that I’ve worked on a lot over the last 12-24 months. So, adding that string to my bow along with my bowling hopefully makes me a better prospect to be selected. But if you’re not in that initial 12, it’s just about training hard and continuing to try to impress the people who pick the teams, and hopefully you get your chance and then take it.

Q: T20 cricket is evolving fast and becoming more batter-friendly. Where do you think bowlers still have an edge?

A: Good question. The fans all want to see high-scoring games. They’re the most exciting ones.

Even as a bowler, I think that the way the bowlers can have an edge is, you know, a bit of cricket smarts, cricket nous, understanding the game and the ground dimensions, trying to get batters to hit in different areas where they don’t want to be hitting the ball, lots of change-ups, and different slow balls. As a bowler, you start the play, you deliver the ball, and the batter responds.

So, as a bowler, you’ve got that initial option of choosing what you’re going to do. So, trying to outsmart and out-think the batters is one area where the bowlers will have a chance even on flat wickets.