[
]
NEW DELHI: UAE wicketkeeper-batter Tanish Suri is aiming to challenge Pakistan’s Azam Khan for the wicketkeeping role in the Desert Vipers squad during the third season of the ILT20.
Suri, one of the two UAE players retained by the Vipers alongside all-rounder Ali Naseer, made his debut for the team last season when both Azam and Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal were unavailable due to international commitments.
Despite his young age of 19, Suri performed admirably with both the bat and gloves against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders before stepping aside when Azam and Chandimal returned.
With Chandimal released, Suri is determined to push for more opportunities this season, as he is one of only two wicketkeepers in the Vipers squad.
Suri’s debut came unexpectedly when he was called up to cover for the absent Azam and Chandimal. He admitted feeling a mix of nervousness, anxiety, and excitement as a youngster playing his first game, especially the Vipers’ opening match of the tournament.
“For me, there was a mixture of nervousness, anxiety and excitement as a youngster playing my first game, especially the Vipers’ opening game for the tournament,” he told the Vipers Voices podcast.
“So I kept it cool and just stuck to the basics. I had a word with Fozzy (Head Coach James Foster), and all other staff members as well. They backed me up a lot and I think I am very grateful for that opportunity. It gave me a lot of confidence.”
Although the Knight Riders won the match, Suri had the chance to keep wickets to high-quality bowlers like Wanindu Hasaranga, Sheldon Cottrell, Tymal Mills, and Mohammad Amir. He even scored a boundary off the last ball of the innings, showcasing his batting talent and making an impact.
Suri acknowledged the mental aspect of the game as the key at this level, adding, “I had never played with them before, but the coaches backed me up very much, so I was very confident, and the keeping went well as well, but unfortunately we lost the first game.”
Suri also benefited from the guidance of experienced wicketkeeper-batters Azam Khan and Dinesh Chandimal.
“And the most important thing I got from them was how do they dealt with the pressure, because as international stars that they are, it is not always that things go positively as far as a result in your game goes,” he added.
“They told me that right now, as a youngster, I have got plenty of time so it is just for me to focus on my game, stick to my basics and keep it simple. Obviously, the pressure is always there and I just need to learn to cope up with that.”
Looking ahead, Suri expressed confidence in the Vipers’ squad and their prospects for the upcoming season under new captain Lockie Ferguson.
“We have got a great side and we did pretty well in season one. Season two did not go our way, but I think, looking to how good our squad is, we should go well and go strong this year,” he added.
Desert Vipers’ first match of the 2025 ILT20 is scheduled against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on January 12.
[
]
Source link