Big Bash: Spinner Tanveer Sangha earns huge compliment from international star

He’s only 20 but spinner Tanveer Sangha has the world at his feet according to one international Big Bash star.

Tanveer Sangha has earned high praise. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Rising Australian spin star Tanveer Sangha has a “big heart” and a bright future according to West Indian superstar Andre Russell after their Big Bash battle on Sunday night.

Russell emerged victorious in their showdown at the Sydney Showground but not before Thunder spinner Sangha, who only made his BBL debut a year ago but has already been part of Australia‘s Twenty20 squad, was denied the wicket of the T20 gun for hire.

Having already dismissed Melbourne Stars guns Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell, Sangha had Russell edge the ball on to his stumps, only for the bails to somehow remain in place.

“The ball hit the stump – like hard … happy to still be batting and have a laugh about it,” Russell said.

Sam Billings and Andre Russell react after the ball hit the stumps but didn’t dislodge the bails. Picture: Mark Kolbe / Cricket Australia via Getty Images

But while Russell finished with 42 runs from just 21 balls in a man-of-the-match performance, he had high praise for Sangha, who could find himself playing for Australia sooner rather than later.

“I commended him and I said, ‘Listen, you have a big heart and I like spinners that are not afraid to bowl to big hitters’,” Russell said.

“He was doing really, really well, (bowling) into my body and mixing up his pace as well. I observed that about him, he just has a bright future.

“He‘s not afraid to bowl in the power surge over to me … he did well, so hats off to him.

“He has a long way to go and if he can be doing this now, he’s just (got) improvement (to come).”

Sangha, who finished the match with 2-20, took the compliment in his stride and was chuffed to hear Russell’s feedback. He declared he wanted the ball when the best came out to bat.

“He (captain Chris Green) is like, ‘Do you want it?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, 100 per cent I want it’,” said Sangha, who only turned 20 last month.

“I know there‘s a lot of pressure, but I just want to compete in the big moment, have the ball.”

Russell and Hilton Cartwright steered the Stars home. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Russell only met his new Melbourne Stars teammates last Friday and, after being kept apart from them as he abided by strict quarantine rules, was set to be integrated to the team bubble on Monday.

“I told the boys save the celebrations, save the hugs for tomorrow,” Russell said after his player-of-the-match performance.

“It‘s good to contribute tonight. The boys have been treating me good – social distancing – but I’ve been having fun.

“Just being around the guys, being in the same nets, doing the same thing at the same time, that’s going to feel normal.”

Originally published as Big Bash: Spinner Tanveer Sangha earns huge compliment from international star