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For love of the game
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Narinderpal Singh has topped the wickets tally this Ranji season and is all geared up for the semi-finals
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EVER WONDERED how a first-class cricketer motivates himself knowing fully well that his career is headed for a dead-end? Narinderpal Singh will provide the answer. The tireless medium-pacer with a splendid run this Ranji season comes up with a typical answer - "as long you love the sport and try to give a whole-hearted performance, all the other factors are secondary. The joy of performing in any grade of cricket is what keeps people like me going," he says. Singh has produced quality spells, which many of his tribe could only dream of. And that too on the Gymkhana Grounds, which till last season was a nightmare for medium-pacers. Singh exploited the sporting pitch this time around and was rewarded with a rich haul of wickets, which was the primary factor to guide Hyderabad to top the table.
Efficiency personified
That he failed to take more than one wicket in any innings only once in 12 innings is itself a tribute to his efficacy.He is the leading wicket-taker this season with 33 wickets taking his overall tally in Ranji Trophy to 292. Eight short of becoming only the fourth fast bowler ever in Ranji history to take more than 300 wickets, according to Thomas Blessington, official scorer of Hyderabad Cricket Association.
He bowled his heart out and often without adequate support from the other end. Only the comeback of left-arm seamer S. Vishnuvardhan in the last three matches eased the burden on this shy cricketer. Both made their Ranji debut about ten years ago together.
The stock ball - the one that swings back very sharply - and the teasing outswinger has spelt doom to the best of the batsmen in domestic cricket. Singh has never been content just being part of a winning combination - he always wanted to be a performing cricketer.
He is not a tear-away fast bowler. Rather he believes in accuracy from a measured run-up using lot of shoulder power to give that vital thrust to his efforts. Singh's innocuous looks haveoften lulled batsmen into a false sense of security. He invariably has the last laugh as he believes in basics - pitch the ball up and swing it both ways. The emphasis has always been on line and length.
Facing a challenge
"I love to bowl on any track. It is always a great challenge to be the frontline bowler for the State team. That spurs me on. Singh is also a very safe second slip fielder - not a favoured position for medium-pacers, but another indication that he is focussed on the job on hand.
How difficult is it to keep going even at the age of 30? "The dream of being a member of the Ranji Trophy winning squad is one, which I have been chasing for quite some time now.
And, I hope that this season with V. V. S. Laxman, in all probability, leading the side, we recapture the trophy after a gap of 17 seasons." With Test star and Hyderabad's leading Ranji Trophy wicket-taker, S. L. Venkatapathi Raju retiring with three matches to go this season, the onus is clearly on Singh to deliver the goods.
And the fitting tribute he paid to one of his best friends and captains in his farewell match by bowling out Uttar Pradesh, in the company of Vishnuvardhan, chasing a low target of 143 was something which is not part of Hyderabad cricketing history.
"I am fascinated by his unflinching commitment to try and provide the breakthroughs in crunch situations. He is a real team man in true terms," recalls Raju. Singh is all geared up for the crucial Ranji Trophy semi-final next month and like his captain, Laxman, believes in winning the match before thinking of the final. "I don't think it will be difficult for us. We are on a roll and the confidence is high," he asserts.
V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM
Photo: P.V. Sivakumar
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