During an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Sam Billings He has revealed the name of the toughest bowler he has faced so far in his career. The England wicketkeeper-batsman named MS Dhoni and Eoin Morgan as the best captains he has played under.
Apart from this, Billings also talked about his viral photo with MS Dhoni and Shahrukh Khan, two great legends of India who are loved all over the world. Billings also talked about some of his most memorable moments in India, from winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Chennai Super Kings to playing with Dhoni and much more.
excerpt from interview
Who is the toughest bowler you have faced in T20 cricket?
Yeah, I think, well, any format, definitely Josh Hazlewood, I think he goes under the radar, guys, obviously you have Mitchell Starc, you have Pat Cummins in that attack, but Josh Hazlewood, I always find it very difficult. He does not forget his height and controls his height very well. And I think, you know, I only faced him towards the back end of his career, but Lasith Malinga in 20-20 cricket, I just, I thought was impossible. I found it really hard to adjust to that angle. So, you know, two very good bowlers that I found tough.
Best captain you played for and why?
Yes, I think whichever captain or any leader you play under, you can learn something from them and obviously they, you can learn different things from them. There is no one right way to captain. I think there are many different ways you can become a successful captain, but I know it sounds obvious, but MS Dhoni, how calm he kept the game and how well he read the game. I thought it was amazing to play under him and he gives you a lot of confidence as a player. So definitely MS Dhoni. Eoin Morgan, very similar, very calm, very calculating and very, very clever too. So those are two guys I've always looked up to. Different personality to me, but definitely elements I try to bring into my captaincy.
Any special memories of playing in India?
I think winning the IPL. Yes, number one. Another one, yes, I think opening the batting, in fact, I think I might still have the record for most runs by Jasprit Bumrah opening for England. So that was also a very special memory. Yes, but winning, losing IPL is very, very difficult, very, very special. And to be a part of that group was incredible. And yes, scoring 50 on debut for Chennai against Kolkata that year, debut for Chennai, after Chennai had not played at home for so long, that was a very special evening. Yes, to perform like that while batting with Dhoni. Yeah, it was kind of surreal.
You have pinned a post with MS Dhoni and Shahrukh Khan on Instagram, can you tell us something about that picture?
Yes, it was that night. I got man of the match on my debut for Chennai, probably one of the best innings I have ever played. And yes, it was a great photo. All three of us were sincerely waiting for the award to be given. And two very good guys have obviously played for Kolkata under Shahrukh. So like that, yes, just spend time with those people. He is worshiped in India. They are total superheroes. So two very, very nice people. And I thought it was a great picture. And it got a lot of love on Instagram. That's why it's pinned.
34-year-old Billings has played three Tests, 28 ODIs and 37 T20 matches for England. He has played 30 matches in IPL. His last international match and IPL came in 2022.
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