After a brief outing in his first innings, Gurkeerat Singh Mann complemented the contributions of centurions Abhinav Mukund and Sudip Chatterjee with a 82-run knock in the second to help India Red set India Green a mountainous target in the ongoing Duleep Trophy. His knock helped set up a thumping win for the Yuvraj Singh-led side.
After a bowler dominated first day, it took getting used to and patiently adapting to playing under lights with the pink ball which has been a point of discussion. The new conditions have had different impacts for various players and in different departments. While Abhinav Mukund, Pathiv Patel and Robin Uthappa have said that they could sight the ball easily, Mann had taken time to adjust to it.
Looking back he said, “It was a very good experience. It was a new experiment and initially (we) didn’t have much practice also with the pink ball. We practiced for one day and then after that most of the batsmen except Abhinav Mukund struggled in the first innings. After practice we were able to sight better.”
Speaking about the concern he faced, Mann elaborated, “For me, initially when I went to bat under the lights the revolutions on the ball I couldn’t make out because the ball is a bit glazy; and when the light comes on the ball it shines more and I could not make out the seam of the ball. After I had spent some more time on the wicket I was watching the ball properly (seeing the ball better).”
“(Sighting) The wrist spinners was a bit difficult (to read) because it doesn’t come on the seam, it is cross seam and you have to make out from the revolution which side the ball is spinning,” he added.
Discussing batting he said, “When the ball gets older and the wicket eases out (is the best time to bat). When you go in to bat after 10-15 overs its hot and humid over here so I think that’s the best time to bat, there is very little movement (of the ball).”
Himself a spinner, Mann, who bowled only one over said he would be looking forward to bowling with the pink ball as well. “I would love to bowl. I bowled one over. There was a lot of dew and I could not grip the ball properly but I would love to bowl with it because the spinners are getting some help with it. Hope I would get to bowl in the next match. Kuldeep Yadav and Shreyas Gopal bowled really well and our off-spinner Akshay Wakhare bowled well too. Once we practice more and play more with the ball we will be able to do a bit better,” he concluded.
