U-19 WC star Tiwary hopes to do well in Challengers’ Trophy

On Wednesday,when Reliance I team hit the nets for a practice session on the eve of their match against Cricket Association of Bengal in the JP Atray Tournament,there was a single figure among the others present there,who looked totally focused and batted some extra sessions. Ever since Saurabh Tiwary heard the news of his selection for the Challengers Trophy in the India Red team,all he wanted to do was spend some more time in the nets. “The news couldn’t have come at a better time for me. The domestic season is about to start and to get such news at this time is really motivating. I was in the India Green team in last year’s Challenger Trophy but I did not get chance to play in any matches. This time I am hopeful that I will get a chance to prove my worth,” the Jharkhand player said.

Tiwary’s inclusion in the Challenger’s Trophy did not come as a surprise given his performance in the domestic season in the last season. His team Jharkhand failed to win even a single match during the last year’s Ranji Trophy Plate League but Tiwary did well for himself accumulating 547 runs in five matches with two centuries and finished third in the run getter’s list behind Sangram Singh and BJ Thakkar of Himachal. “I was not satisfied with my performance at all in the last season. Although I was among the runs but my team failed to do well. However,we are looking forward for some good performances this season and hopefully I will come out with good knocks too,” said the 19-year-old,who finished ahead of Rahul Dravid with 211 runs in three matches in Deodhar Trophy in the 07-08 season.

In his own words,his first effort at gaining form will be the on-going JP Atray Cricket Tournament. “It is a good tournament for the players to get into groove before the Ranji season. Moreover,this tournament will also help me get into shape before the Challenger’s Trophy. I want to perform well in every innings I play so that my team gets some benefit from it,” Tiwary,who hit the winning boundary in his team’s seven wicket win over CAB,said.

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Staring back into the past,he still recalls the day he hit a match winning knock of 74 runs in the final which helped Indian U-19 team clinch the Tri-Series National Tournament in Pretoria in 2008. “That tournament was just before the Under-19 World Cup and the knock helped ease some pressure off me. However,it was the U-19 World Cup that changed everything for me. People started recognising me and I got a chance to play in Deodhar Trophy,” he said.

After some fine performances in the domestic circuit,Saurabh has started dreaming about a spot in the national team. However,he knows it is not that easy. “Age is definitely on my side and I have been playing well in the domestic tournaments. Moreover,the selectors are giving a chance to the youngsters. I fancy my chances of donning the national jersey and that is why I have been working on my bowling with Kajal Das,a personal coach,because I know there are more chances for an all-rounder to make it into the team,” said the Mumbai Indians player.