For Joginder, lessons learnt from the Irfan case

Rohtak’s two-day fascination with the Sehwags, Gambhirs and Nehras was over; time now to indulge in their local boy’s success story. Joginder Sharma is the man of the moment.

For the 23-year old, it was almost a repeat of what had happened exactly four years ago when he sat briefly in the Indian dressing room on tour to Bangladesh — just after the World Cup. This time it’s just before the next World Cup, but Joginder is more confident. “I am really happy to make a comeback, deep inside my heart I was almost expecting a call this time, because I have been doing really well in domestic games for the past two years,” he says.

In this period, Joginder has worked on his deficiencies as a bowler, tried to bridge the gap between the required standards of domestic and international cricket; he picked up a few miles in his speed, worked on a few variations with ball, enjoyed his little stints with the bat but most importantly, kept his priorities clear. “You can call me an all-rounder but I am always a bowler who can bat. Bowling comes naturally to me,” he explains.

But amidst the battery of pace bowlers hurling at 140-plus, can he survive for long as a primary bowler? “My main weapon is swing. And not to look one-dimensional to operate only with the new ball, I have learnt the art of getting the ball to reverse and bowl at the slog. I have also bowled at around 135 and more at times but I don’t believe that you need to be outright quick. I have also 39 wickets this season, have a hat-trick and also picked up seven wickets in an innings twice, all against good sides.”

Joginder has two centuries this season, against the backdrop of frequent Haryana batting collapses. But he has not gone up the order. According to team coach Ashwani Kumar he’s picked Irfan Pathan as a case study to arrive at conclusions and not to make the same mistakes.

“I told Joginder that fast bowing is hard work and the body needs a good rest to come out again and deliver with same efficiency. Batting, in general is a rather pleasurable activity, especially on Indian wickets. He has strong forearms and has the ability to whack the ball far. I told him to keep his batting as a pleasurable option, not to throw his wicket away trying to only hit out but I have always drilled in him that I will evaluate him only with his wickets. He now understands the reason behind it, after seeing Pathan he now understands what can happen if batting substitutes your bowling deficiencies,” says Kumar.