Rajesh now a 'Super-Dhuper' hit in the Odisha side

CUTTACK: This Rajesh is now a 'Super-Dhuper' hit in the Odisha team. Making a comeback into the side after a year, wicket-keeper batsman Rajesh Dhuper stunned Tamil Nadu with a sensational 97 that helped the hosts to hunt down a daunting 530 runs on the final day to take the lead.
Although Dhuper missed out on a deserving maiden first-class century getting out with Odisha needing five runs to overhaul TN's total, it was the right-handed batsman who guided the tail sensibly.
It was Dhuper's three consecutive fifty-run partnerships – 62 for the seventh wicket with Alok Sahoo, 58 for the eighth wicket with Suryakant Pradhan and a ninth-wicket stand of 53 runs with Basant Mohanty – that deflated the TN bowling unit.
"It was a great team effort. I was playing my normal game. I had faith in our tail - Basant, Suryakant and Sahoo – and that they will deliver. It feels amazing," said Dhuper.
Dhuper, who has represented Odisha in six first-class matches, said that he worked hard during the time he spent away from the team and it has paid him rewards.
"I got good scores in the U-23 matches and it helped me get back in to the team. I had a one year gap to work on my batting and keeping, and I made use of that as much as I could," said Dhuper.
With 11 runs to level TN's score, Dhuper hit Washington for a six and a couple of balls later he again tried one and miscued it to be dismissed for 97.
Dhuper explained that he thought play would come to an end after that over because of fading light and that prompted him to go for the big hit. "They were discussing that it was going to be the last over. They were planning to bring on pacers, and as the light was also fading, I thought that play will come to an end. Thus I went for the shot," he added.