Dani carves out a permanent niche

Dani’s showing came in for praise from everyone, including the opposition. And he has not looked back since then. The absence of Raman Lamba at the other end this season has only added a sense of responsibility to his batting. His disciplined 52 in the first game against Haryana on a mine-field of a wicket was a classic example of the staying power he possess. He could not get going in the subsequent games but his century-plus knock against Punjab at the Kotla the other day brought him back in focus.

Dani began his training under the tutelage of `Dronacharya’ Gurcharan Singh at the National Stadium while he was a student of Bal Bharati Public School. He represented Delhi in the Under-15 tournaments and struck three centuries in four matches to announce his arrival.

After graduating to Under-19 age group, Dani continued to score runs heavily in domestic competitions, knocking five hundreds in the three years he played in that category.

It was here that his performances were noticed and he was selected to play for India Under-19 against the touring England Colts. He notched up two centuries in the `Tests’ at Calcutta and Delhi and another hundred against the touring Australian Colts at Pune.

A product of Hindu College, Dani made his Ranji debut in 1993-94 against the Services, scoring 40 and 45 in the two innings. He recorded his maiden hundred in the national championships the following year, scoring 141 against Punjab at Amritsar. He followed it up with a career-best 215 against Himachal Pradesh.

A god-fearing cricketer (I never miss going to the temple whenever I get an opportunity), Dani believes in playing the game with a positive frame of mind. “To play for the country is the ultimate ambition of any sportsman and I also nurture that,” he says.

Dani’s other interests include playing table tennis and badminton but, undoubtedly, cricket takes precedence over all of them. If he continues the way he began the season, Dani is bound to go places.