Out-of-favour Nanda aims to turn it around

“I just remember those two matches,that Irani and this Bengal game. They are so fresh in my mind. Like its important to remember what you have done right,it’s also important to know where you have failed.

I can recall that Bengal game almost ball by ball. I can tell you how many balls I pitched rank short…every small detail. I had a very bad game,I didn’t have much match practice going into the match and I paid for it. I gave everyone the reason to drop me,so I have to accept the fact now,” says.

Nanda knew on his long drive home that his season was over,and the official confirmation was delivered the next day morning. Nanda wasn’t to be seen anywhere for the rest of the season,not in the nets and definitely nowhere where the Delhi team was playing. Keeping track of team’s progress on the net and newspapers,Nanda kept himself busy by decorating his new home and getting ready for a fresh innings on the domestic front.

“When I got dropped,I just decided to say yes to marriage because I needed a break to drive away all the negativity around me,and given my hectic season,I had not given enough attention to my personal life. The break helped because I came back fresher,and hungry to fight my way back in the limited overs version. I hit the nets with much more intensity and it feels good that I have made the cut,” he says.

“I know just one thing,it’s just a matter of two good games,and everything will be back to normal. It will take just two good patches and I can hit the purple patch again,” he says.

It wasn’t easy for him comeback. Called into the camp because of his abilities to bowl a restrictive line,Nanda was subjected to intense scrutiny by the selectors and coach,as the 31-year old was trying to prove the same point as all the teenagers who had swamped the Delhi nets.

“It was weird actually that I came back to my team mates after two months and I could hardly see the same faces. Youngsters had done well and are giving competition to the experienced lot,” he says.

Nanda has also lost his number 1 spinner role to Vikas Mishra,and will have to play second fiddle during the one-dayers. “It doesn’t really bother me if I am the number one bowler or not in the side. My job is to bowl at my best whenever the captain throws the ball to me and it’s always nice to have some healthy competition in the side,” he says.