Gurinder Sandhu thought he was on his final probability a 12 months in the past however is about to move into the brand new BBL season as one of many Thunder’s most vital bowlers after he signed a two-year extension with the lads in inexperienced.
The 29-year-old had solely taken 4 wickets within the earlier two seasons however returned to the type of kind that noticed him earn Australian honours with 18 wickets, just one behind teammate Daniel Sams who performed an additional 4 matches.
Sandhu had a superb marketing campaign with the Thunder, which included a hat-trick in opposition to the Scorchers, and mentioned he was nonetheless eyeing a return to the nationwide facet seven years after his most up-to-date ODI look.
“Doing properly for Sydney Thunder is my primary focus. However, I positively wish to play for my nation once more,” Sandhu mentioned.
“Firstly of final season, it felt like I used to be on my final probability.
“The 12 months earlier than I used to be delisted for a state contract, and per week earlier than the BBL began, I picked up a substitute contract with the Sydney Sixers, for which I used to be extraordinarily grateful.
“Final summer time was the identical. Sydney Thunder provided me a BBL contract simply two months earlier than the season began, and that hit me arduous. I realised all the pieces got here all the way down to me displaying what I can do.
“Despite the fact that I had no concept of whether or not I’d get a sport, I made positive I ticked all of the packing containers I wanted to. My mindset was easy: if I used to be picked to play for Thunder, I used to be going to step onto the sector figuring out I used to be able to go.”
Sandhu is preparing for his ninth season with the Thunder the place his mixture of cutters and slower ball bouncers will complement a strong tempo assault which incorporates Sams, Nathan McAndrew and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
“For almost all of my profession I’ve needed to discover kind; struggle my method again into the group, and I’ve needed to struggle for contracts,” he mentioned.
“What I’ve taken from that’s I do have a robust sense of self-belief and a need to succeed.
“I used to be grateful for the chance Sydney Thunder and [coach] Trevor Bayliss gave me final summer time. I knew I might do what I did, I simply wanted the prospect to indicate individuals I might do it.
“This 12 months I’m approaching the BBL with a special mindset: I wish to do higher than final summer time.”
Head of Thunder Andrew Gilchrist praised Sandhu for his kind on the sector and in addition the best way wherein he’s represented and promoted range in Sydney’s western suburbs.
“Gurinder had an impressive 2021/22 summer time for Sydney Thunder and in addition his adopted state, Queensland,” he mentioned.
“Nonetheless, as somebody who was born Sydney’s western suburbs, and whose father emigrated from India to offer his household with alternatives, Gurinder actually represents a robust a part of Thunder Nation.
“He’s a real crowd favorite, and as a valued member of Thunder we sit up for seeing him obtain the objectives he‘s set himself.”
