Prasanth adds to Royal prowess

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Prasanth Parameswaran aka Puli was an overnight hero, a name that came from nowhere one fine evening at the Ferozeshah Kotla and a week later was consumed by a ‘Gayle storm’.

The turbulence caused by that third over against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), which went for 37 runs, wiped out the left-arm medium pacer, then in the colours of Kochi Tuskers Kerala, out from the current IPL season.

But the lanky bowler is back with a bang in the high-octane gala, ironically in the royal red of his nemesis, RCB. In a surprise signing on Friday evening, RCB bought in Puli to add steam to its unimpressive bowling attack.

“Glad to announce the signing of Prasanth Parameswaran as Aravind’s injury replacement. He was with Kochi last year and we welcome him to Bangalore,” tweeted Sidhartha Mallya, RCB owner.

Puli said he is raring to make an impact on the same stage that had hailed and humbled him in a week’s time. “This is a great opportunity for me, I have waited forever for this to happen,” he said from the RCB camp in Bangalore.

“I went for trials with RCB on a few occasions before and even after the season started. This is a lucky break. Aravind is injured so I might get a chance to start,” he said.

The 26-year-old from Muhamma in Alappuzha district had taken IPL by surprise when he earned the man-of-the-match award on his debut for the prized wickets of Virender Sehwag and Venugopal Rao of the Delhi Daredevils.

Aussie coach Geoff Lawson had spotted the talented swing bowler at the nets of the Tuskers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. Though he could not make further inroads, Puli certainly left a mark on the IPL and is sure to offer more.

Friends of Puli say he had jokingly said after signing for RCB that he always wanted to join the Bangalore side after the last season to avoid being further punished by the dangerous Chris Gayle.
Veteran coach P. Balachandran, one who fine-tuned the bowler said Parameswaran had a good domestic season so should be able to continue that form.

“In one year he has matured as a bowler. He would have been a regular had the Tuskers existed, but this call up, in between season is a recognition for his talent,” said Balachandran.