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Journalism of Courage
There were few positives to come out of Delhis opening match of the CK Nayudu Trophy in which they conceded the first innings lead to TN. One was Dhruv Shoreys innings of 98. But while the 20-year-old was glad he had got his season off to a good start at the Feroz Shah Kotla,he rued the fact that he had once against slipped up in an opportunity to get to the three figure mark.
While Shorey has been a regular member of the Delhi U-22 (and now U-25) top order for the past three seasons of the CK Nayudu Trophy,he has failed to find that one substantial knock that could make the case for propelling him into the ranks of the senior squad. Other people get into the nervous nineties,I get into the nervous seventies, he jokes.
After another solid albeit unspectacular season last time around,Shorey says he consciously tried to make changes in the way he played. After last season,I have been trying to get as much match practice as possible. I have played nearly every type of format 20 overs,40 overs and 50 overs.
But the one thing that you dont get a chance to prepare for is the four day matches in Delhi cricket. Because we dont get a chance to play a lot of days cricket in the north,batting long doesnt come instinctively. It is something you have to force yourself to do, he says.
That indeed was the advice coming from both U-25 coach Amit Bhandari and Delhi senior coach Vijay Dahiya,who coached Shorey when he was part of the DDCA team for the Moin ud Dowlah Cup before the start of this first class season. They told me to simply stick at the crease and that the runs would come on their own, Shorey says. So coming into bat after three quick wickets had fallen in Delhis innings,Shorey played safely with the forward defense his preferred shot.
But while he said his aim was to bat long and not worry about the score,Shorey admits his eyes started nervously glancing towards the scoreboard once he crossed into the 90s. And while he resisted the temptation to go after the lose deliveries,it was that forward defensive stroke that brought about his end,as he was adjudged caught behind. The irony was that I was playing a defensive shot when I was given out. I felt it was a harsh decision but you get a few of those, he said.
With four days to go before his next match against Orissa,Shorey says he will have to take his mind off the fact that he got so close. It is a question of mental toughness. Whenever I get past a fifty,I simply need to think that I am starting from zero once again and get my eye in again. I also guess that next time I wont be looking at the scoreboard that much, says Shorey.
Brief scores: Tamil Nadu 451 all out and 116/1 drew with Delhi 373 all out (Dhruv Shorey 98,Manan Sharma 63 n.o,Malolan Rangarajan 6/82) (Tamil Nadu 3 points; Delhi 1)
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