India's rookie bowlers unplugged: ‘Real’ tears for Rahul Sharma

Since last year, ‘tears’ have been rolling down Rahul Sharma’s face. It’s not that he’s an overly emotional person. Instead, you could blame it on the dreaded nerve dysfunction he suffered before the IPL in 2010. Things were so bad he couldn’t shut his right eye. And it wouldn’t be wrong to say he’s used up a dozen bottles of medicated drops. What’s more, he’s also been subjected to steady but controlled supply of electric current to tickle the ‘dead’ nerves on his face.

On Thursday, though, a casual chat with Parthiv Patel did bring out the ‘real’ tears from the Punjab leg-spinner’s eyes. “I am in Jaipur for the Irani Trophy match that starts on Saturday. My (Rest of India) skipper Parthiv Patel gave me the good news,” Sharma told DNA.

When reminded that he’s replaced Harbhajan Singh, Sharma said, “I always wanted to play with him and bowl in tandem with him,” he said.

The fact that he’s never bowled to an English batsman doesn’t worry him. “Accha hain na? Unhone bhi toh mujhe face nahin kiya hain (It’s good, isn’t it? I am, after all, an unknown commodity for the English batsmen),” he said.