The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Young guns set to fire

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

Young guns set to fire

Sports Reporter

There is no pressure on me, says V.R.V. Singh

Nagpur: A feature of the current Indian side has been how the youngsters have put their arms up to be counted in times of strife. Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla and fast bowler V.R.V. Singh may not play in the first Test, but they are part of a future that looks promising.

Chawla's selection will give him a chance to serve out an apprenticeship under master Anil Kumble. So when did the star of the under-19 World Cup final meet a man he looks up to? "Yesterday (Sunday). We didn't talk much, but we spoke a little today. I'm going to work on what he said about line and length," says Chawla.

Unforgettable

Speaking to reporters after a three-hour session, during which he was carted by Virender Sehwag for a 100-yard six, Chawla said the Challenger Series had been a good experience, "especially getting Sachin paaji out. It's a dream for any bowler to get him and it was a great moment."

The teenager had bewitched the batting great with a googly, a delivery he bowled to great effect in the recent junior World Cup in Colombo. "I'm not a big turner and I bowl a few variations," he said. "I started bowling when I was about 10 or 11. I watched a lot of leg-spinners on TV — Shane Warne and Anil paaji."

New dimension

Singh, among the quickest in the country, will add air-speed to the mix — a dimension India has lacked. How does he look at bowling on Indian wickets which have little for the pacemen?

"It's difficult to bowl on these wickets, but I'm ready for it. I'm quite positive about my bowling and am looking forward to it. There is no pressure on me."

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