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MUMBAI: It took almost a couple of hours – 30.5 overs to be precise – on the fourth day morning to wrap up a thumping innings & 103-run win over Odisha in their fourth match of the 5 Ranji Trophy at the Sharad Pawar Academy in BKC. Odisha’s most fruitful moment in this trip came when Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane shared his vast experience with their players, including captain Govinda Poddar – a poignant sight indeed.
In a group which is seeing unexpected results-Baroda were struggling to avoid an outright defeat at the hands of Tripura at the time of writing, the defending champions have done well to collect a bonus point (seven points) from this match to climb from the fourth to third spot in Elite Group A. Going into their next match against Services at the Palam ground in New Delhi, they have 16 points, and trail Jammu & Kashmir (17) and Baroda (19).
Considering Mumbai began the Ranji season with a stunning defeat to Baroda, Mumbai have done well to bounce back with outright wins at both their matches at BKC. Besides Shreyas Iyer, who scored a blazing double century (233), the Player of the Match, left-arm spinner Shams Mulani, who took five for 71 in 23 overs in the second innings to follow up on his 6/115 in the first dig-thus finishing with a fabulous match haul of 11 for 186 on a pitch which wasn’t turning square.
The 27-year-old now has 15 five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket. Both he and Iyer are knocking the national selection door hard.
Most hearteningly for Mumbai, in the absence of off-spinning allrounder Tanush Kotian, currently touring Australia with India A, Mulani was supported superbly by 21-year-old off-spinner Himanshu Singh, who took 4/77 in 29.5 overs in the second innings, after scalping 3/53 in 22.3 overs in the first.
Playing just his third first-class match, the promising six foot four inches tall off-spinner, who was called up for Team India’s six-day preparatory camp in Chennai before the home series against Bangladesh, thus finished with seven for 130, after taking six for 65 against Tripura at Agartala.
Like in the first innings, Odisha, with their ‘keeper-bat Aashirwad Swain (51, 115b, 3×4), and Kartik Biswal (45 not out, 77b, 5×4) leading the way, didn’t go down without a fight, batting for 72.5 overs while scoring 214 in their second innings after following on.
‘Got confidence after bowling at India camp’
Post the match, Himanshu revealed that his experience of bowling to the Team India batters at the camp in Chennai- an opportunity that came when he was even yet to make his first-class debut-boosted his confidence going into his maiden FC season.
“I got a lot of confidence after bowling there against big players. The confidence is now reflecting here, and I’m happy about it. I learned a lot from looking at how those players prepared, and I also spoke with them. It was a great experience for six days,” Himanshu told reporters.
The young turk fondly recalled his ‘contest’ in the nets with ‘keeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel, who is doing well for India A in Australia currently, and beating star bat Virat Kohli. He also managed to have a chat with left-arm spin ace Ravindra Jadeja. “I enjoyed bowling at Dhruv Jurel. The wickets were mostly flat, I bowled a lot to him and he was doing well so I also enjoyed the contest. I also bowled at them and beat both of them, beating Virat bhai was more satisfying. I spoke with Jadeja about his preparations etc,” Himanshu said.
It isn’t a surprise that the young offie idolizes the modern-day masters of his craft-India’s Ravichandran Ashwin-Himanshu’s action is therefore similar-and Australia’s Nathan Lyon. “I only follow two bowlers all over the world- Lyon and Ashwin. Whatever I have learned in terms of off-spin bowling in white and red-ball cricket has been from watching them bowl,” he said.
Possessing an action similar to that of Ashwin can also be a source of headache for Himanshu as it would evoke comparisons with a proven Test stalwart. “I always enjoyed bowling so I don’t feel any pressure when people say I am like Ashwin. In fact, I feel good about it but then I have a long way to go, there is a lot of time left,” the spinner said.
“(Being tall) The advantage is that I get bounce, especially on the red-soil wickets. Mostly on black soil, the variation of bounce is there.”
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