A veteran at 22

At 22, most cricketers are usually found busy making their mark in first class cricket...

At 22, most cricketers are usually found busy making their mark in first class cricket, starry eyed, looking at what the future holds in a sport that keeps producing icons by the dozen. But Tripura8217;s Tushar Saha can call himself a veteran.

Seven years of first class cricket already behind him, the frustration of having been restricted to playing only the Plate Division and men-who-matter constantly turning a blind eye had turned Saha into a skeptic of sorts. So much so, that getting a chance to play in the Duleep Trophy this season for the East Zone 8212; thanks to the Indian Cricket League snatching a major chunk of state cricketers 8212; Saha feels like he8217;s earned a place in the Indian team. 8220;I can8217;t describe how good I feel,8221; he sas.

For the last seven seasons, Saha had no first hand experience of knowing how to compete with the elite. In fact, when the entered the dressing room at Wankhede Stadium on Friday, the youngster couldn8217;t help but watch in awe, Mumbai8217;s Hall of Fame 8212; first class cricketers who8217;ve made the city proud over the years. Interacting with the media was also a novelty of sorts. 8220;It is really nice talking to you. We aren8217;t used to stadiums and facilities like here,8221; he says.

The young player was candid that it took him a day before he could adjust to the ambience of the Mumbai dressing room, the fact that it8217;s been shared by the likes of Sachin Tendulkar. The Wankhede track too was a fresh change considering the wickets and outfield back home.

Saha says it is Sourav Ganguly8217;s advice that still keeps him motivated. 8220;He always said never lose hope and try make the best when you get an opportunity.8221; Saha claims that he8217;s the first player in the last decade to be representing Tripura in the East Zone. Last season, he claimed 19 wickets from five matches that guaranteed him the berth.

In the match on at Wankhede, Saha grabbed four wickets on the second day to help his team, East Zone, bundled out South for a paltry 204 and earned the vital first innings lead of 114 runs. And when stumps were drawn, East added another five to the lead without losing openers Shiv Sundar Das 4 and Arindam Das 0.

Brief Scores: East Zone 313 Halhadar Das 93, N Aiyappa 5/84 038; 5/0 vs South Zone 204 all out M Vijay 46, Arjun Yadav 41; Tushar Saha 4/47.