Spinner Sodhi ready for Blast off - The Worcester Observer

Spinner Sodhi ready for Blast off

Worcester Editorial 10th Jun, 2021   0

RAPIDS have moved quickly to replace Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane with New Zealand leg spinner Ish Sodhi as their second overseas player for this summer’s Vitality Blast.

The 28-year-old, who has played international cricket for the Black Caps in all formats, will replace Lamichhane who has been ruled out because of visa and passport issues.

Sodhi is available for the entire group stages of the Blast and was part of the Rapids side who kicked off their Vitality Blast with a thrilling tie against the Notts Outlaws

Kiwi Sodhi played T20 cricket for the Outlaws in 2017 and 2018 and has to date played 17 Tests, 33 ODIs and 57 T20I. In 2018 he was the number one ranked T20I bowler in the ICC ratings.




He also has a wealth of T20 experience from playing in the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League in Australia and Caribbean Premier League.

Rapids head coach Alex Gidman is delighted to have signed a quality replacement in Sodhi.


“It is a really good signing for us, a high class international player of the same skill set we wanted to bring in as one of our overseas players for the Blast,” he said.

“Ish has vast experience in T20 cricket and the fact he has already played in the Blast is an added bonus and I’m sure he will become a popular member of the group.

“It is also good that he can get here so quickly once we made it known we wanted to sign him.”

Steering Group chairman Paul Pridgeon, said: “Because of passport and visa issues Sandeep was already going to miss at least the first four games and probably more.

“But we are delighted that at such a late stage we have been able to sign a top-notch, high-quality replacement in Ish.

“He has done very well for New Zealand in white ball cricket and you don’t get to number one in the world without being something special.

“Everyone has put a lot of work this winter and in recent months in trying to ensure we signed a proven spinner for the Blast and we are delighted it has come to fruition.”

Sodhi will link up with the county’s other overseas T20 signing in Australian left arm paceman, Ben Dwarshuis. The 26-year-old from New South Wales arrived in England last weekend.

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