FIRST INTERVIEW: ISH SODHI 'RELISHING' OUTLAWS RETURN AFTER BECOMING WORLD NUMBER ONE

Ish Sodhi believes there is much more to come from him despite becoming the number one T20 bowler in the world – and he hopes to prove it during his 2018 summer stint with the Notts Outlaws.

The 25-year-old leg-spinner has signed a deal to be the Green and Golds’ second overseas player – joining Dan Christian – in this summer’s T20 Blast.

Both men were influential in the Outlaws winning England’s leading domestic T20 competition for the first time in September.

New Zealander Sodhi can’t wait to have another crack at playing at Trent Bridge come July and believes previous experience in England – and an injection in confidence which has come from topping the ICC rankings – will aid his cause.

Before today's international T20 against Pakstan, Sodhi had taken 29 wickets in 19 matches in the format, averaging 15.75.

“Being world number one in T20 is something I’m really proud of,” he told trentbridge.co.uk. “When you see the guys who are in the top 10 and see how good they are, then you start to gain more respect for yourself being mentioned along with them.

“I can take the experiences I have had in the last year or so and use them to my advantage.”

“It’s also given me a little bit more motivation to do well to keep getting well and progressing because I think there’s no limit to how much I can improve.

“I can take the experiences I have had in the last year or so and use them to my advantage. Coming to Notts and playing on the good batting wickets at Trent Bridge, for instance, made going to India and playing on those surfaces a lot easier.

“Once you go out and see what’s successful and what’s not in the place you’re playing, then that always helps. I had to try to learn quickly as soon as I came.

“I now have that information and know better what works and what doesn’t, what mindset you have to be in and just how important taking wickets is in T20 in England as opposed to economy rate.

“Beating the 15 wickets is something I’m planning to do and I’ll certainly do my best. I just want to be able to contribute and hopefully contribute to a winning side again.”

Sodhi, who is currently playing in New Zealand international T20 series against Pakistan, was thrilled to be part of the Notts side to win Finals Day at Edgbaston in September.

In the celebrations, he memorably bowed on one knee to present Samit Patel, who few would disagree was Notts' player of the day, with the trophy.

Sodhi has since played for Northern Knights against Patel’s Wellington Firebirds in New Zealand’s Super Smash twice, claiming his wicket on both occasions and also hitting the Notts all-rounder for a six when batting.

“To win Finals Day and go running across with the trophy to all the Notts fans who had come to watch was amazing.”

He said: “They’ll be a bit of banter about that when I get back in the Notts dressing room I’m sure!.

“When we were last teammates, getting to Finals Day was something special because there is the anticipation as the day goes on, whether you’re on first or second and then if you make it through, into the evening.

“You have to get routines in place, even though you can’t do what you usually do as you have three games being played in the space of nine or 10 hours.

“You have to be really adaptable to be successful, but it’s one of the best events I’ve ever been involved in for cricket, probably the best. To win it and go running across with the trophy to all the Notts fans who had come to watch was amazing. What a feeling!”

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