Had the Champions Trophy been held in Pakistan in its entirety, it’s highly likely that Tanveer Singh Sangha would have stayed on Australia’s bench. But with India refusing to play across the border, Australia have had to journey to Dubai for their semi-final, with India scheduled to play all their matches there. And having seen how effectively India employed spin in their 44-run victory against New Zealand, Australia drafted in Sangha in place of Spencer Johnson, the left-arm pacer, for the last-four clash.
The Sydney-born leg-spinner has been on Australia’s radar for a while, having made both his ODI and T20I debuts in South Africa in August-September 2023. Though he has yet to make any impact in the 50-over format – he has two wickets in three previous matches at an average of 79.50 and an economy rate of nearly 7 – the sluggish surface in Dubai has made the Australian think-tank take a gamble on him. With Adam Zampa the only frontline spinner in the ranks, a second leg-spin option is an appealing one, especially given Virat Kohli’s recent struggles against that type of bowling.
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Sangha, now 23, was born to Joga Singh, a taxi driver who emigrated from Jalandhar in Punjab, and Upjeet Kaur, whose family had earlier settled in Fiji. Having made his mark in age-group cricket, he was included in the squad for the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa in 2020.
India’s Ravi Bishnoi topped the charts with 17 wickets in that tournament, but Sangha wasn’t far behind, with 15 wickets at 11.46. He caught the eye with both his control and his ability to rip the ball. In the quarterfinal against India at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, a match Priyam Garg’s team won convincingly, Sangha picked up the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal, clean bowled.
Though he hasn’t represented Australia in the shortest format since 2023, Sangha’s variations have made him one of the most-feared bowlers in the Big Bash League. In 42 matches for Sydney Thunder, he has taken 53 wickets while conceding just 7.25 runs an over. For the Thunder, he often plays alongside the unrelated Jason Sangha, known more for his batting.
With Zampa turning 33 later this month, Sangha is very much one for the future. In the present though, he could be a surprise weapon against the land of his forefathers.
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