Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 05:56 AM
Tripura U-22 batsman Gaurav Bhatia was accorded a warm welcome from Delhi players who had once, as his team-mates, shared stints of various selection camps with him. Until making it to the Tripura U-22 side this year, Bhatia was just another Delhiite who would struggle in the selection camps but never earned a chance to represent the state. Although he couldn't spend much time in the center against his hometown team, the experience of sharing the same stage was worth cherishing.
"Coming back to Delhi is nice. The players in the Delhi team are friends and I love playing against them. Though, I am on the other side now, the competition makes you perform better," says the 18-year-old wicket-keeper-cum-batsman. More than the harsh times he suffered in Delhi, it was his consistency in the local circuit that showed him the right path. He realised that getting a chance to showcase his talent was more important than continuing to struggle for Delhi. "At least I am getting a chance to play the Col CK Nayadu trophy. I can play under-22 cricket for three more years and this will help me explore the game better. If I perform better, maybe I could make it to the Ranji side," he adds.
Bhatia isn't the only outstation player who has made Tripura his base, as Amit Gavande of Mumbai is also enjoying his third year with the state team. The lean and lanky fast bowler has so far garnered 11 scalps in three matches. He too shares a similar mindset as Bhatia's but his aim this year is to get recognised as a first class cricketer. "I have played my cricket in Mumbai but I hardly got to play there. Tripura on the other hand gave me chance to play. I am performing well since the last three years and I am hoping for a Ranji call up," says Gavande.
Life isn't most comfortable for Gavande since he has to travel back to Mumbai since he is employed by Future Group. After the season ends, he is scheduled to play the Times Shield tournament. "My company grants me leave for as much period as I need. Since the Tripura league starts in December, I will fly back to Mumbai to play good cricket," says Gavande, who picked up two wickets on the opening day of the U-22 match against Delhi.
For years the level of cricket in Tripura has stagnated since the team has failed to leave a mark in any forms of the game. But both players who have had enough of quality cricket back in their hometowns, believe there has been a turn for the better. They believe that infrastructural changes that have been incorporated have made Tripura jump a level higher.
"Earlier facilities were lacking in the state but now we have good grounds, good coaches who have a lot of experience, the players have been improving but this cannot give immediate results. The value of time has to be respected which can change the face of Tripura," explains Bhatia. Their last encounter against Haryana saw them losing by thirty runs.
Though their figures against Delhi weren't that convincing as they were bundled out for a paltry 75, still they held their ground as they finished the day scalping six Delhi wickets. Amit Das contributed 31 runs but four wickets apiece by Pawan Suyal and Vikas Mishra meant that Delhi had a chance to bat before lunch.
For Delhi, the start didn't go according to plans as they lost opener Anshul Gupta claimed by Amit Gavande. Karan Rai too struggled with scoring as an in-swinger by Gavande left Rai indecisive before he got castled away. Opener Abhishek Kapoor too made a well-crafted 39. Later Rahul Yadav and Vartik Tihara steadied the ship as they both batted in tandem. Rahul too departed in a similar fashion when the ball made inroads through the rough and knocked of the middle stump. Vartik too didn't last long and fell at cover. Delhi were 175/6 at the end of Day One with a lead of 100 runs.
Brief scores: Tripura Ist innings 75 all out in 30.2 overs (A Das 31, V Mishra 4/10, P Suyal 4/31); Delhi Ist Innings 175 for 6 in 57 overs (R Yadav 42, A Kapoor 39, V Tihara 37, A Gavande 2/31, A Chakaraborty 2/28, S Mujumder 2/59)
Source: Web Search
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