Nasik, Dec 9: Making his Under-19 debut in the ongoing Cooch Behar Trophy, Maharashtra opener Vijay Zol scored an unbeaten 451 off 466 balls in a Plate Group A match against Assam. His knock powered the hosts to 763 for the loss of four wickets before they declared their innings against Assam.
Speaking to bcci.tv at the end of day’s play, the left-handed batsman from Jalna said he had not set himself any particular target but aimed to stay at the crease long enough to put his team in a good position.
Excerpts:
On his assessment of the pitch when he came out to bat
The pitch was moving a bit in the beginning so I knew that it would become flat later; I was just waiting for it to get flat.
On whether he set himself any targets and how he paced the innings
There were no targets as such but there was team planning. My coach had told us during the team-planning [session] to rotate the strike and just stay on the wicket as much as I could. There were no such targets. I was just playing every ball on its merit and my individual score kept building.
On anticipating a big innings
I just kept playing for the team. I knew that we had to put up a big score to get them out twice so I was just playing for that.
On his previous best score
My previous highest score was 222 against Gujarat last year at the Under-16 [level]. This is my first year in [the] Under-19 [age group]
On Assam’s bowling attack
The bowlers were good but they were bowling well in patches so I was just playing the good balls and hitting the loose balls.
On whether he singled out any particular bowler for playing shots
No, nothing as such. We were just playing on the merit of the ball.
On whether he watched Virender Sehwag’s ODI double-century against West Indies the previous day and was inspired by it
I had a match yesterday so I couldn’t see his innings. He is my role model; [but it’s] not like I have to [replicate his feats].
On his role models
Sachin [Tendulkar] and Sehwag are my role models. I have been watching them since my childhood.
On the team coach
David Andrews. He has been coaching us for the last three years. He was our coach in the Under-16 [age group] for the last two years. It’s his first year at the Under-19 [level].
On when he started playing cricket professionally
I have been playing cricket since the last seven years. I have been playing at the Under-13 even the Under-14 [levels]. It started there.
On his personal coach’s advice to him
My coach, Raju Kane Sir, has always told me that I would get minimum opportunities on which I would have to capitalise; so I have just been doing that.
On his coach’s reaction to his innings
My coach said it was an outstanding innings and that I would have to continue [playing in that vein] throughout the tournament. He just wants me to keep scoring runs in this tournament.
On his family’s support
No one else in my family plays cricket but they have always supported me. I left school in the ninth standard; they have always believed that I would do well in cricket.
