THE LONG locks have made way for a simpler, old-fashioned buzz cut. The lean, muscular look is abandoned for a more brawnier avatar, replete with a well-etched tattoo on his bulging left forearm. Jai Prakash Yadav or JP, as he is popularly known in domestic circles, has undergone a physical metamorphosis over the last decade. International cricket got the first sighting of the all-rounder back in November 2002, when he made his ODI debut against West Indies. His first two appearances at international cricket were fleeting. Perhaps, the most definitive memory of JP in international cricket came during his third ODI - against New Zealand in Bulawayo more than 11 summers ago. During that ODI, his 118-run stand with No.10 Irfan Pathan, gave Sourav Ganguly’s side a glimmer of hope in an otherwise lost cause. He scored a valiant 69, and his handy medium pacers proved to be speed-breakers on a sluggish track. The all-rounder finished with figures of 1/46 in his 10 overs. JP’s tenure in international cricket was brief, with just a dozen ODIs. But the knock against the Kiwis on that blustery afternoon in Bulawayo typified JP - industrious and pugnacious. These were some of his traits that also took him to the top on the domestic circuit, especially with the Railways. His all-round ability played a stellar role in their ascent as a Ranji superpower in the mid 2000s. “It was a very productive phase in my career. We had a great bunch of talented individuals who had managed to gel well as a unit. We won two Ranji titles, and a couple of Irani titles as well. So, in all it was a great phase in my domestic career,” JP said. He was part of the core group, that also included the likes of Murali Karthik, Sanjay Bangar and Yere Goud, that transformed Railways into a formidable unit in the last decade. However, much before the glorious highs, came his lowest ebb - more than two decades ago - when he was diagnosed with a rare malignant tumour. JP was just 21, and was drafted into the Madhya Pradesh Ranji side. His deteriorating health, and several rounds of chemotherapy, made matters worse. At one point, it looked like the tumour would end JP’s fledgling career. But JP remained positive. He survived. More than two decades later, he can afford a smile, and is philosophical about a painful and testing chapter in his life. “In such circumstances, one needs to be positive. Thankfully, I also got ample support from my family and friends. So, that helped,” he said. A lot has changed for JP since then. Apart from his physical transformation, he has also made three distinct changes to his job profile over the last three years. After quitting domestic cricket at the end of the 2013 season, he took on the mantle of a selector for the Railways Ranji squad, a role he says he had fulfilled with relish for two consecutive years. And ahead of the current Ranji season, he has now slipped into a different role - coach of the Railways. JP admitted his latest role is a challenge. Railways are no longer the force they once were. The core group, which JP was an integral part of, has retired. Consequently, the selectors have found it tough to replenish them. Tapering results Not surprisingly, results began to taper. Last season, they finished second from bottom in the group standings. JP believes the reason for their failure was that they did not have a settled unit. “We did not have a settled squad last year. Our batting did not click, and there were wholesale changes. all these factors went against us last season,” he explained. To put things in perspective, the Railways had a settled squad during their prolific run in the last decade. “Apart from our obvious talent, we had a settled squad season after season. We knew each other pretty well, and in the course of seven or eight years, there were only three or four changes to the squad. All these factors helped us back then,” the Railways coach said. JP exudes confidence of a turnaround. He said the new-look squad has the requisite ammunition to survive the rigours of the season. “Without sounding overtly confident, we look a more settled unit this time around. We have brought in some fresh faces for this season, and have dropped those who underperformed last year.” JP has included Rajasthan’s batting all-rounder Mandeep Singh, wicketkeeper-batsman Nikhil Doru and Uttar Pradesh opener Shivakant Shukla. Interestingly, neither of the three featured in the last Ranji season. One of the surprise omissions from last season is pacer Krishnakath Upadhyay. Before the season, JP and his new-look Railways squad spent a month at a training camp in Gwalior. “We had a conditioning camp in Gwalior. The aim was to get the team to gel before the season,” he added. Along with the camaraderie, JP would hope some of his innate grit and tenacity rubs off on his young team. If that happens, Railways can prosper in this edition of the Ranji Trophy.
