In-form Manan riding high on big scores

It is 7.35 in the evening and the last of sun’s rays have come and gone. As most cricketers pack their kit bags after a hard day’s toil,one see a young batsman refusing to leave the nets. The 16-year-old Chandigarh opener Manan Vohra is still practising strokes in the nets at Guru Nanak Public School,Sector 36,Chandigarh. For him,every moment is precious and important.With three centuries under his belt in the recently held U-22 Punjab inter-district tournament,Manan is riding high on his success. He says,“I really worked very hard over the last two years on my cricket. After performing well at the U-15 and U-16 level two years ago,I think I was quite unlucky not to get enough opportunities. I was really down last year when I was made to sit on the bench throughout the U-19 state championship. So there was a lot of pressure on me to excel this time,so that I could stake my claim in the U-19 as well as U-22 state teams,” he says,with sweat on his face and glint in his eyes. Manan single-handedly led the Chandigarh challenge in the U-22 tournament and hit knocks of 108,129 and 179,making him the most talked about young talent in Punjab cricket. Seeing his skills,he was even drafted in the Punjab senior Ranji camp in 2008. Unfortunately,there was no steep rise for him after he made to the senior state camp.

In the last two years,I have worked upon my fitness,running,fielding,catching and even done a bit of weight training. I lacked on the stamina front,so I indulged in hard physical training to build stamina. I used to spend 8-10 hours training everyday to achieve top-form. Then,I wanted to start the season with a bang,and I am delighted to have done that. Now I need to perform at the U-19 level,” he says.Manan was immensely talented at a younger age,even making it to the Indian U-13 squad for Sharjah Cup in 2004: “As a child it was very difficult to make a choice between hockey and cricket. Being the grandson of former hockey player YP Vohra it was tough to resist choosing hockey stick over cricket bat.” His grandfather is his mentor and guide. “It was my grandfather whoinspired me to again work on my cricket and make a mark for myself. It was on his insistence that I worked hard on my cricket. He only told me that my match-winning knocks will prove a point. Whenever I am down,I just need a pep-talk from him,” reasoned Manan. Interestingly,Manan has gained 6 inches in his height in the last one year.

Eyeing U-19 World Cup
TAKING note of Manan’s form in the U-22 tournament,his coach Harminder Singh says,“His knocks exhibited maturity,seriousness,cricket sense and skill. He has hit a lot many double hundreds at the junior level,but these tons were far better. He has evolved as a batsman. Being an aggressive batsman,he used to target every delivery for a boundary,but now he looks for ones and twos also,which helps him build his innings. In the coming years,players like Manan will beprime contenders for Punjab Ranji slots. He just needs to have more chances to perform. He aims to spend more time at the crease now,At present Manan is preparing to take part in the U-19 Dhruve Pandove Trophy.”“This year is very crucial for me. I want to perform exceedingly well at the U-19 and U-22 state level and make a mark for myself,ahead of the U-19 World Cup to be held next year. My aim will be to break into the Indian U-19 WC squad. Till then I am keeping my fingers crossed,” he explains,while finally getting ready to leave the ground.