The Mumbai team is geared up to kick-start the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season on a high note. The Aditya Tare-led team’s morale was further boosted by an interaction with Sachin Tendulkar at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex. The team had assembled for training on September 28 before leaving for their season opener against Andhra Pradesh in Vizianagaram.
While the team went about their drills, the bowlers had a session with Tendulkar. The master batsman, also a former Mumbai cricketer, who had on a previous occasion spoken to the batsmen, talked to the bowlers on Monday morning.
Tendulkar shared his experiences and gave tips to the bowlers. The legendary cricketer also watched the bowlers in action in the nets and gave inputs.
Mumbai’s bowling spearhead Dhawal Kulkarni, who is back in the squad after spending time with the national team said, “He (Tendulkar) spoke about bowling as a unit, backing each other and playing fearless cricket. He said, ‘share your experiences with each other when you are bowling on the field’ and talked about bowling in partnerships.
“The way he speaks, it brings a lot of positive intent to our team. Whenever he is around he is always helpful and it really boosts our spirit,” Kulkarni said. “It is special for me as well because just his presence makes you feel a lot confident and you can express yourself. There is no hesitance in talking to him because he is approachable and always ready to clear any doubts.”
Speaking about the team, Kulkarni said, “The decisions have to be quick. The confidence with which we are going in this Ranji Trophy is really high. We have won the Buchi Babu tournament and we did well in Hyderabad as well (practice games) so everyone is looking geared up.”
Shardul Thakur, who led the Mumbai attack in 2014-15 in absence of Kulkarni and finished as the highest wicket-taker said, “He (Tendulkar) spoke about a lot of things, but he was mostly focusing on how to bowl in different sessions. Like what length to bowl in the first session, post-lunch session and then in the evening session. He was a lot more focused on the topic of how to read the pitch, assess the situation and adjust your bowling accordingly, also according to batsman (you are bowling at) and also (taking into account) how old is the ball – lot of those finer things.”
Talking about the examples that Tendulkar shared, Thakur, said, “He told us about Sourav Ganguly’s last Test in Nagpur where India scored around 441 runs (in the first innings) then came back to bowl to Australia. He spoke about how they changed their bowling plan after seeing the Australians score a lot. Then came back and kept on bowling outside the off-stump and keeping 8-1 field (thus) curbing the (flow) of runs. Indian team didn’t give more than 40 runs in both - morning and afternoon session which changed the course of the match. India then went on to win the match when the ball started spinning in the second innings.”
Asked what was Tendulkar’s advise to him, the pacer said, “He has told me to focus on what I can do better and not try different things. He also gave example of M Muralitharan, who when he started bowling the ‘doosra’, had practiced it for 18 months in the nets and it wasn’t as if he went and bowled the variation straight in the match. So, he said, ‘even when you are trying a new thing or developing a new ball practice with patience and give it time so that you can bowl it well in the match.”
Harmeet Singh, who had also received attention from Tendulkar, said that the former cricketer spoke about technical and tactical points as well as the mental approach. “We all know it but it is a question of being aware of the situations that arise in the game. He is the best in the business to tell us about different situations. That’s what we discussed - what different situations can arise and can be challenge for us and how to overcome them and do the process right. He also spoke about discipline and working in partnerships and other things,” the spinner said while sharing what was discussed with Tendulkar.
“It was very useful (to interact with him) before the game. The talk helped clear doubts in our mind. He told me, from what I saw you last year, last year and also last month, there is a little bit of change for good. I have been working on my action and my bowling with Omkar Salvi (bowling coach) and MCA Bowling Foundation (MCA-IDBI Federal Life Insurance Bowling Foundation). He said I am looking good much better shape and so keep it up and peak at the right time,” Harmeet said.
As the team looks to get off to a winning start to the tournament, Kulkarni said, “I am feeling good and looking forward to give my hundred percent to the team. We will do well this year.”
Under the guidance of coach, Chandrakant Pandit, the team have set their sights on reclaiming the trophy. “Last year we saw ups and downs but this year I think our team is a lot settled both in batting and bowling departments. Vishal (Dabhalokar) and Harmeet (Singh) have both found rhythm in the last tournaments. Dhawal is coming back and I also have played a few games and found that I am bowling well. Balu (Balwinder Singh Sandhu jr) is also bowling well, hitting there and there (about) overall it looks good,” Thakur mentioned while talking about the team.
