J&K bowlers learn from Kerala pacers,hurt their batsmen

By the time the second new ball was taken an over before lunch,one of the overnight batsman Rohan Prem,Jagadeesh fell after making 106,who looked well-set to complete his century,had moved into the 80s. His partner,Robert Fernandez,was well set in his 20s.

The visitor had seven wickets in hand and were 100 runs from taking the first innings lead.

For 84 minutes post-lunch,the Jammu and Kashmir bowlers stuck to their coach’s brief,prising out seven Kerala batsmen for only 24 runs. Jammu and Kashmir,after taking the first innings honours,finished the day at 111 for one with an overall lead of 186.

Four of the Kerala wickets to fall were caught by wicketkeeper Obaid Haroon while two were bowled an indicator that the bowlers didn’t waste the second new ball.

While senior bowler Samiullah Beigh scalped three,it was 25-year-old Ram Dayal Punia who struck in the first and third over after lunch to remove Prem and Robert Fernandes (both caught behind) the pair that had added 43 for the fourth wicket and seemed to be in no trouble as they knocked off runs in the quest for the first innings lead.

Creating a buzz

PUNIA,25,is the latest medium-pacer from the state around whom there is a buzz. He has steadily progressed through the age groups and has an affinity to the wicket at the GGM ground.

His prized scalp came on this ground when Amol Muzumdar shouldered arms and was bowled by an in-swinger after Punia had delivered five outswingers in a row during a game against Andhra last season.

After his family moved from Bikaner to Reshamgarh,a local club-cricketer took Punia under his wings. The MA Stadium,adjacent to the GGM ground,is where Punia rolled wickets before bowling on them. Punia’s run up to the wicket is smooth and though he does not have express pace,he has the ability to surprise the batsman with an extra yard or two.

Having a pehelwan in the family,in his father Shri Gopal Punia,to monitor his fitness and diet from a young age has ensured that Punia has imbibed a strong work ethic. The senior Punia has a namkeen business that he runs from his house but his son has been brought up on a healthier diet.

Qayyum believes that the medium-pacer,whose stock ball is the in-cutter,has the talent to progress if he gets the right kind of exposure. The right kind of opportunities that Qayyum is talking about have been difficult to come by for bowlers from the state.

Beigh,captain till last year,recalls how inspite of being among the wickets when it came to the Deodhar Trophy and the Duleep Trophy,he never made the playing XI though he was part of the squads.

Punia however,has big dreams.

My aim is to play for India. Last year coach Bishen Singh Bedi changed my outlook by convincing me that playing for a smaller team like J and K shouldn’t stop me from dreaming big, Punia said.

When it comes to role models,Punia has chosen the best.

Before every game,I watch videos of South African fast bowler Dale Steyn. If the match is on a slow wicket,I watch clips of how Steyn has bowled in the sub-continent. If a game is being played on a fast wicket,I watch how Steyn has bowled on helpful wickets. I want to be as fit as him and hopefully as skillful one day, Punia added.

Brief scores: J&K 377 and 111/1 (A Rishi 68 vs Kerala 307 (V Jagadeesh 106,S Beigh 4/76,R Dayal 2/64)