Ravi Bishnoi was bought by the King’s 11 Punjab in the Auction held last year in Kolkata. He’s the Indian spinner who had a dream run at the recently concluded u19 WC tournament in South Africa with 17 wickets- the highest in this edition and the most by an Indian in the tournament. But Ravi is already looking forward to the time which he’ll spend with Indian and World Cricket great Anil Kumble during the upcoming IPL, as he’s the head coach of the franchise.
“I am very excited that I will get to spend time with none other than Anil Kumble Sir during the IPL and my only lookout is to pick his brain and learn as much as I can. I will look to stay around him and work on finer areas of my bowling under his guidance” he has said these smiling while speaking to the IANS.
While he took so many wickets in the tournament and being included in the Team of the Tournament, he says that his sole motive was India winning the matches when he took the field in South Africa.
“I wasn’t there for records,my aim was to win matches for my team and ultimately come back with the trophy. It was always in my mind,that every time take the field, I should contribute in a manner that we come out triumphant at the end of the match” he pointed.
Moving on, it is time for the IPL in around 45 days, Bishnoi says that it will be an impressive platform to perform while he lookes on to impress the selectors.
“The u19 world cup as well as the IPL are two very important platforms to perform for any budding cricketer. These are the tournament wherein your performance gets highlighted and the selectors take note, so I will definitely look to give it my best because at the end of the day,we all dream of playing for the Indian Team. Everytime I get an opportunity, I will look to give it my 100%.
He is also looking to improve his batting which came to India’s help during the all- important Quarter Final against Australia when the match was still in the balance if not in Australia’s favour.
“You cannot stop yourself at being just a bowler or a batsman. In today’s day and age you need to be multi dimensional and I am working on that just that as I am working on my batting and wish to turn into a handy bat as well “he signed off.
If he achieves his goals, India will be getting a genuine allrounder as he was also spotted fielding in the all important point region in the u19 WC.
But he has more challenges than it seems, as his IPL team spreads has allrounders like J. Suchith, K. Gowtham, D. Hooda, D. Nalkhande, T S Dhilon with overseas recruits like Glenn Maxwell, Chris Jordan and Jimmy Neesham. Then there is Mujeeb Ur Rehman and Murugan Ashwin as well in the same roster.
So will he get any game, it remains to be seen in the month of April onwards.
His state team Rajasthan also gives some healthy competition because of the presence of other spinners like Mahipal Lomror, Rahul Chahar. So if he manages to make his name among so many competitors, it will only improve his game, boosting his confidence and getting better with time.
He can be a handy No.8 as he also said. Hopefully he’ll be donning the blue Jersey very soon. Exciting and tough competition even in domestic teams, hallmark of a really strong Cricketing Nation.
ArnabBasuCricketFan 