Mumbai, Dec 10: Propelled by Mandeep Singh’s maiden first-class double-ton, Punjab raised a mountain of 580 runs in their first innings after being asked to take first strike by Mumbai. After a shaky start to his innings, the youngster capitalized on the lives that he got and was back amongst the runs after a drought in his last few innings. Ably supported by the rest of the line-up, he helped Punjab set up a challenging total for the home team at the Wankhede Stadium.
Speaking to the media after the end of day’s play, the 20-year-old talked about his batting and about learning to convert starts into big scores.
Excerpts from Mandeep’s interaction with the press:
On their batting and setting up a challenging total
It is a challenging total. 580 runs is tough on any wicket. The batting has been good. Everyone batted well and since it was my first double-hundred so I am very happy.
On their batting in the first session
I was playing a little watchfully and this wicket suits my style of batting. The ball comes on to the bat so you are able to cut and pull, so it suits my style of play. In Mohali what happens is the ball doesn’t come on to the bat so much. I took a bit of time in the beginning [to get in] and once I was set I could play the shots.
On whether they had decided to attack
No nothing like that. We had only thought of playing the new-ball as much as possible. We got a few loose deliveries and short balls and we capitalised on them. Amitoze Singh is a stroke player and he anyway plays like he did today. I didn’t plan to play faster or attack I had only thought of seeing the new ball through for 15-20 overs so then we can get around 550 runs. But we kept getting loose deliveries so we got more runs.
On the pitch
The pitch is doing a bit, the ball does swing. If we bowl in the right areas we will get wickets. There is very little margin for error because if the ball comes on to the bat, if the delivery is even slightly loose then it gets converted for runs. The plan is to bowl in the right areas and if we do that we will definitely get wickets. Bhajji paaji [Harbhajan Singh] will be very crucial because playing him is difficult as it is, whether the wicket turns or not. I missed a catch, but today also he looked difficult [to negotiate].
On whether he was under pressure to perform in this match since he hadn’t been amongst the runs in the past five games
The pressure is always there. There was pressure from the first match itself and I was captain from the second match so then the responsibility also increases and that adds to it. But the team was performing well so it gave me confidence. Others were doing well and if I too can perform well then it will be better for team.
On what went wrong for Mumbai
Fielding I think. I was dropped a few times and I converted it into a double-hundred. If they had taken those catches then maybe they would have probably got a couple of wickets more on the first evening itself, and then they could have probably bowled us out earlier today.
On his habit of playing big innings when he gets going
The last two-three hundreds are the ones that I have converted into big innings. Earlier I would not such big hundreds. Earlier I used to play more shots after getting to the century, it is the only the last three hundreds that have been big. I have started waiting for the loose balls. If I get out after being set it is only because of me so I have started waiting and looking to convert the innings into big ones.
On whether he has been working on his fitness
I have been working more on my fitness in the last two years because if you want to compete at a higher level you should be agile and need power.
I keep in touch with the NCA. I have worked them for four-five years when I was younger. I follow whatever schedule that they give me.
As a child I have worked with my dad who is an athletics coach but now the training is different but sometimes I do work with them. We have Javelin throwers and I train with them sometimes.
In the last one year I am more agile than before so all this has definitely helped.
