Viru’s shot breaks window pane, Gauti puts up brave front
6 Dec 2014 1:13 AM GMT
The ageing duo looked like members of a ‘lonely planet’ at the picturesque Roshanara Club ground where the other members of the Delhi team were going through the paces.
While all the other members wore whites (a custom followed by lot of teams to get into the groove), these two were wearing colourful track suits. The ‘difference’ in every aspect was palpable. They have been champions in their own rights and no one can deny that any kind of rejection hurts a
performer’s ego.
Gambhir spoke to the small group of reporters present but only after clarifying he doesn’t want to speak on World Cup and will stick to Delhi’s Ranji Trophy preparations. Gambhir’s fascination for playing home games at seamer-friendly Roshanara is well-known and the reason he gave was no different from what has been heard already.
“I know it’s better to play on batting friendly tracks (Feroz Shah Kotla) but what’s the use of scoring 800 runs if your team doesn’t qualify for knock-outs. Batsmen can set up matches but it’s the bowlers who will have to take 20 wickets to win matches. The Roshanara strip gives me an option to play five specialist bowlers,” Gambhir said in reference to Delhi’s opening Ranji Trophy encounter against Saurashtra, starting Sunday.
At the nets, Sehwag was in a mood to hit everything out of sight, most of which didn’t connect well but interestingly the last shot, an inside-out lofted shot over covers that broke the window pane of the private club’s library.
Gambhir later spoke about giving juniors a “secure dressing room environment”. “There are a lot of juniors in the side and my aim as a captain would be to give them a secure dressing room environment. Whether you are playing junior cricket or Ranji Trophy, a secured dressing room environment is key to a team’s success,” said left-hander.
It’s futile trying to gauge what’s going on in their minds but come Sunday, it will be the start of the most difficult battle for one of the most celebrated opening pairs of Indian cricket.
While all the other members wore whites (a custom followed by lot of teams to get into the groove), these two were wearing colourful track suits. The ‘difference’ in every aspect was palpable. They have been champions in their own rights and no one can deny that any kind of rejection hurts a
performer’s ego.
Gambhir spoke to the small group of reporters present but only after clarifying he doesn’t want to speak on World Cup and will stick to Delhi’s Ranji Trophy preparations. Gambhir’s fascination for playing home games at seamer-friendly Roshanara is well-known and the reason he gave was no different from what has been heard already.
“I know it’s better to play on batting friendly tracks (Feroz Shah Kotla) but what’s the use of scoring 800 runs if your team doesn’t qualify for knock-outs. Batsmen can set up matches but it’s the bowlers who will have to take 20 wickets to win matches. The Roshanara strip gives me an option to play five specialist bowlers,” Gambhir said in reference to Delhi’s opening Ranji Trophy encounter against Saurashtra, starting Sunday.
At the nets, Sehwag was in a mood to hit everything out of sight, most of which didn’t connect well but interestingly the last shot, an inside-out lofted shot over covers that broke the window pane of the private club’s library.
Gambhir later spoke about giving juniors a “secure dressing room environment”. “There are a lot of juniors in the side and my aim as a captain would be to give them a secure dressing room environment. Whether you are playing junior cricket or Ranji Trophy, a secured dressing room environment is key to a team’s success,” said left-hander.
It’s futile trying to gauge what’s going on in their minds but come Sunday, it will be the start of the most difficult battle for one of the most celebrated opening pairs of Indian cricket.
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