The 23-year-old leggie, who was born in Ludhiana, which is around 90kms from Mohali, is expected to enjoy a lot of home crowd support during the T20 match against Pakistan
Kiwi leg-spinner Ish Sodhi
Mohali: Today's New Zealand vs Pakistan clash here is very much like a home game for Kiwi spinner Ish Sodhi. The 23-year-old leggie, who was born in Ludhiana, which is around 90kms from Mohali, is expected to enjoy a lot of home crowd support during the match.
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Kiwi leg-spinner Ish Sodhi
It is understood that the Kiwi spinner has requested the Punjab Cricket Association for around 20 tickets for today's clash to distribute to his friends and relatives here. While some of his close family members will be seated in the corporate boxes, the rest will be in the stands.
Sodhi has been one of the star performers for New Zealand in the World T20 so far. He impressed against Sri Lanka in the warm-up match at the Wankhede Stadium, claiming 2-19. Then, the lanky spinner left India distraught in Nagpur with 3-18 off his four overs in the tournament opener. He followed that with 1-14 as NZ beat Australia in Dharamsala.
Kiwis enjoy chicken tikka & naan
Food is always a concern for teams travelling to foreign destinations. Sportspersons tend to be very cautious of what they eat. However, the New Zealand cricket team is ensuring they have a great time gorging on Indian food here during the World T20. The Black Caps haven't made requests for any particular type of cuisine and are enjoying Indian food instead.
Seeking divine intervention: Pakistani players say their evening prayers at the PCA Stadium in Mohali yesterday. Pic/PTI
mid-day has learnt that the Kiwis are relishing chicken tikka and naan bread in particular. Their only request to the chef is that the food should be non-spicy. On Sunday evening, the team visited a nearby mall and ate at the famous Nandos.
NZ's Ross Taylor is a pro in Hindi
NEW Zealand's dressing room was a happy place yesterday with punk and rock music played aloud. Ross Taylor emerged humming one of those as he headed out for a fielding session. En route he greeted a member of the security staff in chaste Hindi.
"Kaise ho (how are you?), Sab theek hai (is all well). Aapka naam kya hai? (what's your name?)," asked Taylor. The lines obviously caught the guards off-guard initially but left them pleasantly surprised. Taylor would have definitely learnt those lines during his Indian Premier League outings here.