Raj turning out to be hub of seamers

Jaipur: There has to be something in Rajasthan’s air that has helped the state produce so many seamers in the past decade. Since Pankaj Singh made his place among the leading medium-pacers in domestic cricket, the state has seen a steady stream of his type of bowlers. The likes of Deepak Chahar, Aniket Choudhary, Rituraj Singh, Nathu Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Tanvir-Ul-Haq, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Abhimanyu Lamba have either played for the country or have knocked on the door at some stage or the other. In fact, there is a healthy competition for a place in the state’s team with a proven performer more often then not, left sitting out for no fault of his.

“It is this healthy competition that has seen Rajasthan produce so many

fast bowlers

,” Pankaj says. “Budding players feel encouraged when they see one of their own flourishing in domestic cricket.” That someone is Pankaj himself, who has been among the highest wicket-takers in Ranji Trophy over the past few years. “Deepak and Aniket too have shown the way for youngsters,” he adds.

Navendu Tyagi, who has coached bowlers like Deepak and Abhimanyu, agrees that the presence of role models has been crucial. However, he will not discount the fact that Rajasthan bowlers are always ready to work hard. “They put in long hours under gruelling conditions,” he says.

Imtiaz Ali, under whom Khaleel Ahmed has trained during his formative years, also talks about the tough conditions that players in the state have to go through. “These bowlers play even in the summers, which is quite harsh here,” he tells TOI. “The heat and dryness that our bowlers face is much more difficult that other regions of the country. After enduring that, our medium-pacers become quite tough.” He has often put Khaleel through the pace in June at dusty Tonk. “It has helped him value his role as a medium-pacer.”

Team Rajasthan senior team coach Amit Asawa puts it down to the natural physique. “Our boys have the right kind of physique for a fast bowler,” he says. That would mean a greater level of stamina and endurance. That sounds logical too, given that Rajasthan-based players have excelled in other endurance sport too, like long-distance running and rowing.

For Surendra Rathore, who has mentored Nagarkoti, it is a combination of the right physical structure and hard work. “Not only are the players here are well-built, but are also willing to work hard,” he says. There have been a number of coaching programmes too, which have focused on fast bowling. “These have helped immensely,” says Tyagi. Conducive tracks have helped too, particularly the one at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, at least till the soil was changed a couple of years ago. In fact, teams have gone with all-pace attack on the strip that was, and have tasted success.

In the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, Aniket and Tanvir are among the highest wicket-takers with 47 scalps each. Playing for Puducherry, Pankaj continues to excel with 41 wickets. Another Rajasthan native, Kulwant Khejroliya, is a part of the Delhi attack. Clearly, Rajasthan seamers are hitting their strides and as long as they continue doing that, the state’s teams cannot be pushovers.


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