Fast impression

Sumit Narhwal’s career had seemed to have hit a dead end: it had been a long time since he had been shunted out of the Haryana Ranji team, and there were no alternatives in sight.

Then, just ahead of the Ranji Trophy semi-finals last season, he got the phone call from Gautam Gambhir — who told him of his inclusion in the Delhi team — that he admits changed his life. Playing for ONGC helped pay the bills, but it was the Delhi break that proved to be his ticket to fame. He played his part in his team clinching the trophy, and with 13 wickets in three games already this season, is turning out to be the defending champions’ Mr Reliable.

“I can never forget that call from Gauti. It took me a few minutes to realise what he had said. I was playing with him for ONGC in all big tournaments and never before had he either indicated or mentioned that he might take up my case to play for Delhi. It was a bolt from the blue, but a happy one.

“The break came at the right time. I was hungry and craving an opportunity, and within a short span, I am pleased that I have fulfilled the faith Gauti and Virender Sehwag reposed in me,” he says.

Narhwal is the elder of the two sons of a small-scale farmer in Karnal, and his interest in the game grew because he had seen his father play “exceptional cricket” for his village team. “My brother and I used to watch our dad play for the village team and every night I would wish I could play like my dad,” he says, adding that he’s learnt his cricket just by playing in his “gaon” and watching his father play. “Aise koi formal training nahi liya bachpan mein (I didn’t get any formal training as a youngster). I got trained playing little matches, then I got selected for the district team and moved forward from there. At a later stage, I trained under Pramod Kush in Karnal, and went to DAV college in Chandigarh where Yograj Singh (former India pacer and Yuvraj Singh’s father) helped me fine-tune my skills, “ he says.

“I always wanted to bowl fast like Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, or even like apna Ishant. I am already clocking around 140kmph and can increase my speed depending on conditions. My strength will always be the ability to move the ball off the wicket, and putting the ball in the right areas six balls in an over,” he says.

Narhwal and his room mates Vikramjeet Malik, who plays for Himachal, and Waqar Ahmed keep talking about pace bowling till late in the night. “I, Malik and Waqar have this little contest going amongst each other. Malik has a great ability of taking wickets in bunches. I have a long way to get to his haul still,” he says.

Bowling apart, the 26-year-old has just helped Delhi back on their feet with a superlative batting display in the last game against Orissa, one that helped the defending champions to their first full points of the season. “Eventually, I would like to make my place in the team as a quality all-rounder. I have a first- class hundred and was happy to chip in with a half-century in the last match. I could have made more even in the Gujarat game, maybe even clinched the first innings lead but I got a bad decision. These things happen, I have learnt to take them in my stride. There are two more games this season and my aim is to single-handedly take them to qualification,” he says.

While others enjoyed their ten-day break from the rigorous domestic calendar, Narhwal was off in Silichar where he played a tournament. Now that he’s back, he’s already excited about regrouping for the big games ahead. “No complaints on my part about the schedule, I am thoroughly enjoying my time. At least I am playing cricket, sitting idle is worse,” he says. “I know how that feels.”