I’ve sold milk to make ends meet

The boy from Noichunpur has come a long way, both literally and figuratively. His journey so far has been full of struggle. A recent addition to Team India’s dressing room, Ashoke Dinda is basking in his new-found glory. But he isn’t resting on his laurels and would rather set himself a tough target.
“I’ve a long way to go. The immediate aim is to play in the World Cup,” says Dinda.So, how was being part of Team India and sharing space with the likes of Sehwag and Yuvraj? “I was awestruck. My seniors have been very encouraging. They broke the ice with either a pat on my back or by striking up a conversation,” reveals Dinda, who has earlier been part of India A on its trip to Israel. Back from his twin tours of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, the Bengal pacer is self-analytical: “My overenthusiasm and nervousness got the better of me at times. The wickets in Zimbabwe are very slow. I could’ve used my swing better to induce more edges.”
Dinda is still learning the ropes. The Bengal pacer considers IPL to be his second turning point in life, the first being his selection as the Scorpio Speedster. “It got me noticed in Bengal. With IPL, I got national recognition. Dadi (Sourav Ganguly) asked me to develop the slower ball. And the finishing touches were provided by Wasim Akram. I’ve tried to be accurate. My short of length deliveries have been difficult to hit for sixes. Also, I can now deliver yorkers at will,” says Dinda confidently.
The speedster might have come up the ranks, but he hasn’t forgotten those who supported him all through. Says he, “I’m lucky to have people like Atal Dev Burman (my coach) and Dadi around me.” Dinda, who idolises Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar for their speed, is headed for Australia to be part of Emerging Players tournament. Though he would’ve loved to be part of Team India for the tri-series in Sri Lanka, the Bengal bowler is happy to be playing at the top level. “I’m trying to be match fit. I do not think about the selections. My job is to give my 100 per cent,” reasons Dinda, who first came to Kolkata with his uncle to check out city life and stayed on. Talking about his initial days, Dinda says, “I used to commute daily by train. I’d wake up at 4 am and reach home by midnight. I’ve slept at the station to save time. I’ve had to travel without tickets too and have sold milk from the cows we had at home and ran errands at people’s homes.”
After making his mark with the ball, the 26-year-old now hopes to contribute with his bat. “My roommate, Wriddhiman Saha, has been patient enough to help me with batting practice and tips. I want to register some good scores,” reveals Dinda.
The lean bowler, who is learning to drive his new SUV, is all set to speed his way to success. No stopping him.
ashok.chatterjee@timesgroup.com
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