MS Dhoni’s ‘life-changing onslaught’ that turned Ramakrishna Ghosh into a death-overs beast

New Delhi: With 11 runs needed off 18 balls and half-centurion Lalit Yadav at one end, it was Goa's game to lose in their recent Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) match against Maharashtra. While Goa were curtailed in their risk-taking with one wicket left, pace-bowling all-rounder Ramakrishna Ghosh turned the match into a one-sided affair with maidens in the 48th and 50th overs. Yadav (57*) failed to connect a single ball in the final over where six runs were needed, with the clash ending in a miraculous five-run win for Maharashtra."I knew Lalit would try to hit me for a six. We had just four fielders outside the circle which was a major disadvantage. However, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad told me to just focus on bowling yorkers which I calmly executed," said Ramakrishna, during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com."At the same time, there was emphasis on adapting based on the different strokes being attempted like the scoop shot. Eventually, the pressure on the final delivery was quite significant and Lalit completely missed the ball," he added.Video of last over:'Smashing Mumbai, 7 wickets in 1 match'The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side finished third in their VHT group, concluding an impressive campaign where Ghosh stood out with his performances across departments. The 28-year-old all-rounder impressed with the bat, smashing 225 runs in seven matches. Ghosh made his presence felt in major games against Punjab and Mumbai, scoring 73 against the former, followed by an unbeaten 27-ball 64 against the latter. Video of knock against Mumbai: The Maharashtra cricketer is among the leading wicket-takers in the edition, accounting for 17 dismissals at an economy rate of 5.10, which includes a spell of 7/42 against Himachal Pradesh. Ghosh joined an exclusive list of players who have recorded seven dismissals in a VHT match, registering an eye-grabbing feat.'MS Dhoni's life-changing onslaught'The pace-bowling all-rounder especially stood out with his calmness and adaptability as evident from the consecutive maidens under extreme pressure. Ghosh developed this clarity in mindset following a conversation with MS Dhoni after a practice match at Chepauk while representing CSK."I wanted to prove myself by bowling wide yorkers in the death overs at a high pace, as instructed by bowling coach Eric Simons. Dhoni, the batter on strike, kept smashing every delivery to all parts of the ground for boundaries," shared the pace-bowling all-rounder."Even attempts to change the field made no difference. I requested another opportunity to bowl in the same situation after the match which resulted in a similar hammering. Dhoni highlighted the need to focus on execution in an intelligent manner rather than simply indulging in a lot of planning. That interaction marked a significant shift in my approach as a bowler," he added.'Michael Holding's influence'Ramakrishna hails from Nashik and started playing cricket from an early age under the guidance of his father and former Maharashtra cricketer Shekhar Ghosh. There was great clarity from the onset about the sacrifices needed to pursue cricket professionally, with emphasis on complete commitment. Ghosh initially started off as a leg-spinner, developing a strong ability to read the batters. However, a sudden growth spurt shifted focus towards pace, with former West Indies fast-bowler Michael Holding emerging as a major source of inspiration. Ghosh watched videos of Holding's deliveries hundreds of times, steadily developing a bowling action similar to the cricketer. The Maharashtra all-rounder gradually enhanced his pace, benefitting from a natural athlete's build.'2-year ultimatum, Gaikwad's backing & Ashwin's praise'While Nashik had been the original base for the cricketer, a call was taken to shift to Pune at the age of 18 in order to enhance state team opportunities. Ghosh set himself an ultimatum of two years to excel as a cricketer, following which he would walk away from the game in case of failure. However, the decision to shift to Pune proved to be a game-changer, gifting the all-rounder a chance to meet Ruturaj, who soon developed into a mentor. Ghosh impressed as a formidable batter and a reliable game-changer who could bowl at 140 km/h, benefiting from the CSK captain's inputs. Gaikwad provided the all-rounder a platform to excel, recommending him for the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) and eventually a stint with CSK whom he currently represents."Ramakrishna initially didn't get much of a chance to bat because teams would consider him mainly as a fast bowler. We decided to change that perspective by working hard on his stance and conducting drills, enabling him to smash bowlers," said the cricketer's coach."Ravichandran Ashwin recently praised my son, stating that the Indian team needs an all-rounder like him. An opportunity for him will satisfy even my unfulfilled desire to represent Team India," stated the all-rounder's father.'Comparisons to Hardik Pandya'CSK fans have termed Ramakrishna as a player who can be their answer to arch-rivals Mumbai Indians' Hardik Pandya, with his high pace, athleticism and big-hitting. "I admire Hardik. It feels nice to hear such things. However, I just want to be the best," shared the Maharashtra all-rounder.