India’s T20 World Cup-winning pacer RP Singh, who was once seen as the bright replacement of legendary left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan, has revealed that he himself had no answer as in why his career was cut short early.
While in a conversation with former India opener Aakash Chopra, the UP-born left-arm pacer also opened up on his friendship with wicketkeeper batsman MS Dhoni.
RP Singh said that he and Dhoni had met even before they were selected to play for India.
“We used to spend time together, then he became captain and his graph kept going up and mine down. But our friendship is intact and we still talk and roam around together. In cricketing matters we have different opinions.”
RP Singh also revealed that he asks Dhoni about what could he have done to be a better cricketer.
“I didn’t get that answer. Dhoni told that ‘yes you are working hard but may be it’s about the luck’,” RP Singh said, adding that he agreed with latter’s answer.
Singh was the second-highest wicket-taker in the inaugural T20 World Cup but he could play only 3 T20 internationals after that.
The Test and ODI career also didn’t flourish as much and ended on 14 and 58 matches, respectively.
When asked what was it that led to a sudden turn in his very promising-looking career, RP Singh said he himself don’t have the answer.
“I was at the top, performance wise but neither could I save my place in Tests or ODIs. I played IPL and I guess I was one of the highest wicket-taker in 3 or 4 seasons but didn’t get to play matches may because the captain did not have trust in me or may be my performance had really downgraded.”
“The selectors never gave me that answer even after I asked and they just told me ‘keep working hard your time will come’ (raaje tu mehnat kar tera waqt jarur aaega)”, RP Singh said.
RP Singh, 34, announced his retirement from international cricket in 2018.
