Chirag ready for slam-bang cricket

AHMEDABAD: There is one cricketer from Surat who is keeping his district's flag flying. However, for youngster Chirag Gandhi, it has been the past that has been bothering him ever since his team Gujarat played the worst one hour against Mumbai in Valsad and got denied of a quarterfinal berth.
Gandhi saw it all happening first from the middle and then from the dressing room as Gujarat lost the plot when they just need one point to move into the quarters.
"It was very depressing to not make into quarters despite being in comfortable position," the 23-year-old said.
The disappointment writ large on Chirag’s face and it deepened when he could not make it to the one-day side and kept pondering about his future from the sidelines.
"I could not do much in the two Ranji Trophy matches and naturally found myself out of the under-25 and one-day sides," said the youngster.
However, sadness gave way to delight as the Surat-lad found his name first in the T20 camp and then eventually in the 15-member squad to take part in the West Zone T20 championship that will be held in Mumbai.
Even though Chirag missed two selection matches as they clashed with his job interview, he made the most of the final match to find his way back into the squad.
"I knew I had just one match to impress the selectors. I was desperate to make the most of it," he added.
Chirag caught the chance with both hands and hit a brilliant hundred, an unbeaten 62-ball 112, and sealed the deal.
"It will be tough for me to get into the playing XI. But I am raring to go for the slam-bang cricket and hope to make it to the final XI," a confident Chirag concluded.