Rashmi Ranjan Parida’s name is still deeply entrenched in the minds of cricket statisticians. For four consecutive years (1999-2002), he figured in the list of top ten domestic run-getters, and in the penultimate year of this streak, he amassed 1200-plus first-class runs and resultantly got an India A call. Notching up his fourteenth first-class ton (130) at Palam against Services on Monday seemed to be just another insignificant speck added to the heap, despite being more than one-third of what Assam chased down on the last day (371). The relevance of the century, however, lay in the wish of a captain who desperately wanted to end the Ranji season on a triumphant note. The result was there for everyone to see — the massive 371-run target was chased down in a single day. “It’s my best innings of the season because we were chasing 371 on a fifth-day track,” Parida says. Parida left his home team Orissa and joined Assam this season. And every time he’s scored something of note, Assam have won this season. “I wasn’t enjoying cricket there (Orissa), I got an offer from Assam being a professional player and I decided to come on board,” he says.Out of their five matches, Assam have won three, one better than second-placed Madhya Pradesh, but have lost two outright. “I’m a bit disappointed with the defeats to Bengal and Madhya Pradesh,” Parida rues, adding, “This season our batting has been a big failure, only Jacob (Martin) and I have been among the runs,” says the 31-year old.What he rues more are the chances he failed to capitalise on. “Playing for India A against England in 2001, I failed to convert the 30s and 40s into big scores. After that I didn’t get many chances,” Parida adds. Far from his peak now, Parida isn’t sure of renewing his contract with Assam. “It’s so different there, even from the cricketing point of view. The boys aren’t used to big matches and they start panicking. Being the skipper I have to look after these things,” Parida concludes.
