Bowling like MS Dhoni: Ice-cool Putul Sonowal makes it 2 in 2 in lawn bowls

ByTech Word News

In cricket, MS Dhoni built an iconic legacy on ice-cold composure, taking high-stakes contests down to the wire before delivering the deadly final blow. At the 2026 Commonwealth Games, India’s grass-court debutant Putul Sonowal is fast establishing a similar reputation for nerve-wracking, last-gasp brilliance.

On his debut at the Games, the 43-year-old Havildar with the Assam Police announced himself on the global stage with back-to-back clutch victories, holding his nerve under immense pressure to remain unbeaten in the men’s singles D section.

SENSATIONAL DEBUT AGAINST BESTER

Sonowal, ranked world No. 21 and arriving in Glasgow as the reigning Asian champion, began his Commonwealth Games campaign with one of the biggest upsets in bowls history. In his Section D opener, Sonowal took on Canada’s Ryan Bester – a true titan of the sport. Bester is the 2023 World Outdoor Champion, three-time Commonwealth Games medalist and 2025 World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee. Still, Sonowal showed zero anxiety on the big stage.

The Indian set the tone early, taking the opening set 5-4. Even as Bester struck with an impressive 7-3 display in the second set to force a tie-break-all-take-break, Sonowal remained completely undeterred. Sonowal showed tactical precision on his last serve in the decider and placed his bowl closest to the jack, leaving the legendary Canadian empty-handed to secure a momentous victory.

What a result #TeamIndia!

Putul Sonowal pulls off a stunning upset as he defeats reigning world outdoor champion Ryan Bester in a tie-break.

Watch Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 LIVE NOW exclusively on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV TV channels. pic.twitter.com/X5Onplk4pe— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 23, 2026

DRAMA DAY 2: THE END OF THE ICE

Putul Sonowal defeats Cecil Alexander in his second match (PTI Photo)

If his opening triumph proved his pedigree, the second day against Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands cemented Sonowal’s status as finish champion.

Sonowal started strongly, winning the first set 7-5 after rallying from an early deficit. Alexander fought back impressively in the second frame to force another high-stakes shootout at 8-6.

With everything on the line in the one end decider, Alexander appeared to seal the win after placing his blue bowl right next to the jack. For India, it seemed mathematically gone.

Enter Sonowal’s inner Dhoni. Sonowal, who stepped up to the final serve of the match, delivered an extraordinary weighted stroke. His bowl sailed down the green and slammed right into Alexander’s blue bowl, knocking it cleanly out of position and allowing Sonowal’s own red bowl to slide in closest to the jack. Orb placement before Sonowal’s final shot (Screengrab by Sony LIv)

It was a moment of pure magic that drew applause even from Alexander himself, handing Sonowal a dramatic win (7-5, 6-8, 1-0) and moving India to the top of Section D. The final position of the balls after Sonowal’s last attempt (Screengrab from SonyLiv)

ASSAM POLICE TO CWG CONTENDER

Sonowal’s rise to international prominence is a story of courage and quiet dedication. Sonowal, who served with the Assam Police, rose steadily through the Indian domestic scene, winning men’s triples gold at the national championships and men’s singles bronze at the national games. His breakthrough moment came earlier in 2026 when he won men’s singles gold at the Asian Lawn Bowls Championships in New Delhi, setting up a qualification for Glasgow.

Sonowal was now sitting on two wins from two matches – both decided by high-wire final deliveries and turned India’s turf bowls campaign into essential viewing. If he maintains this icy composure, a historic medal run is within reach. Putul Sonowal in second place with a perfect start (Screengrab from CWG2026 website)

LAWN BOWS: A QUICK GUIDE TO MEN’S SINGLES

  • In singles bowls, two players compete by taking turns to deliver four biased (asymmetrical) bowls per round (called an “end”) towards a smaller target ball known as a jack. Commonwealth Games matches are played in a set-play format consisting of two sets of seven games each.
  • Players score 1 point (shot) for each bowl of theirs that rests closer to the jack than their opponent’s bowl when the end is completed.
  • The player with the highest cumulative number of strokes at the end of five ends (seven ends in the second set) wins the set.
  • If the match is tied at 1-1 in sets, a high-stakes one-end bet is played where the player who secures a single winning point in that final end takes the overall match.

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

25 Jul 2026 01:05 IST