‘Carrom ball coming in my armoury’

Excerpts:

What have you learnt from the rave party incident in which you and another Pune Warriors’ cricketer Wayne Parnell were charged with taking recreational drugs during the last IPL ?

The whole experience of going through the ordeal has been very damaging mentally for me and my family. I had not expected in my wildest dreams what actually came out afterwards. Having said that,I have learnt to be mature and take wise decisions if I really want to keep playing cricket for a long time. I should not have attended such a party in any way. After the incident,I have promised myself to be extra committed to the game and put 100 percent in everything I do. My focus should always be cricket and nothing else. It is easy to get carried away sometimes,but one has to be extra careful and alert all the time.

Did BCCI officials and Indian senior cricketers counsel you on this? You were seen as someone with a bright future for Indian cricket. Do you think this case will put a blot on your image ?

The BCCI officials were very supportive and helpful in extending their concern. I was just told to concentrate on my cricket. In fact,Dhoni Bhai,Kohli Bhai,Bhajji Paaji and,most importantly,Yuvi Paaji were there to guide and motivate me. They all told me to forget about the incident and work on the future. I was devastated with the charges,but then one could not do anything. Everybody told me to work on the game and prove my abilities in the domestic season and aim for a comeback.

Although you played in five Ranji matches for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy last season,you could only bag a handful of wickets. How have you been working on your bowling since then ?

The PCA Stadium in Mohali doesn’t have a spin-friendly track. It suits the quick bowlers more. And we have to play at least four matches at home. I struggled to get wickets because of the nature of the wicket. I happen to talk and train along side Ajantha Mendis during IPL 6. I expressed my desire to learn the ‘Carrom Ball’ which he bowls with good affect. He gave useful tips on how to bowl that delivery. Since then I have been practicing that delivery with full intensity. Mendis was of the opinion that my height could make the delivery more affective. So,I am developing the ‘Carrom Ball’ and wish to use it in the domestic season,especially at the PCA stadium wicket.

Do you think making a comeback into the Indian team would be a tough task seeing the success of the trio in the spin department ? Even though Amit Mishra has not had a chance to play a game in the recent tours,he occupies the place for a leg-spinner in the Indian ODI and T-20 side ?

Making a comeback in the national team is always going to be tough for anyone. It will be very challenging for me to grab the attention of the selectors. But then I love challenges. I am just thinking about cricket right now and nothing else. Good performances speak a lot for a sportsperson. Mishra Bhai is a great bowler. He rightly deserves his place in the team and others too. But I am just thinking of forgetting what all has happened in the past and start the season from a scratch.