Making the most of his opportunities
Sidney Kiran, Nov 18, 2016,Bengaluru, DHNS
Cricket : Arvind has been lethal this season
Be it batting or bowling, there's severe competition for places in the Karnataka team that seems to have regained its winning mojo this season.
Despite some big names — batsmen — graduating to the national side, some talented players are forced to wait in the wings. In the bowling department, seasoned medium pacer S Arvind was forced to cool his heels at home when the Ranji Trophy started owing to the riches available in the bowling department.
With skipper R Vinay Kumar being an automatic choice and the team management choosing to play hard-working 27-year-old Abhimanyu Mithun, Arvind had to wait for his chance — not an ideal state of mind to be in for a 32-year-old whose career is often troubled by injuries. Luck, however, shone on Arvind when Vinay injured his calf in the very first Ranji Trophy game and the left-armer was called up for the second match.
A genuine wicket-taker who was one of the vital cogs in Karnataka’s dominance in 2013-14 and 2014-15 where they swept to glory in Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy, Arvind showed what the team had missed. On a seaming track at the Eden Gardens, Arvind wrecked Delhi with superb performance (4/12) in the first innings. He then rattled Assam with a 5/70 — again in the first innings — before accumulating five wickets against Vidarbha.
Against Rajasthan this week, he worked brilliantly with senior colleague Vinay, picking 4/36 and 3/19 to reestablish his place in the side. Arvind is now Karnataka’s leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps at an eye-popping average of 11.31.
“He’s always been a fighter,” said coach J Arun Kumar. “Even when he had an injury, to come back to form said a lot about his character. He was away from cricket for two years, then he came back and even played for India. We always knew he was a fighter and a great team man. Even when he is there (in the playing XI), he keeps the atmosphere really good. He is a true passionate lover of Karnataka, and gives his best every time.”
Media shy Arvind said he knew it was going to be tough this season but was prepared to scrap. “It is about the team combination and whether I fit in or not. I got an opportunity in the second match and I have been utilising it in a proper way. I’ve just been bowling to my strengths. Normally my strength is bowling in good areas and making the ball swing. That’s what I've been doing in the four matches so far.
“If you have a strong mindset then you can comeback easily. I rely mostly on my fitness and hard work. Most of the time, I stick to my strengths and tell myself, whatever you do, give it your best. My motto in life and sport is simple – keep working hard.”
Arvind, whose economy is also a miserly 2.04 runs per over this Ranji Trophy, said he loves bowling with Vinay. “We discuss in the team meeting on partnerships and we strategise. For example, if we bowl 3-4 maiden overs, we know a wicket will be around the corner as the batsmen will force themselves to get runs. It’s been working for us. In fact it worked in the match against Rajasthan.”
Despite some big names — batsmen — graduating to the national side, some talented players are forced to wait in the wings. In the bowling department, seasoned medium pacer S Arvind was forced to cool his heels at home when the Ranji Trophy started owing to the riches available in the bowling department.
With skipper R Vinay Kumar being an automatic choice and the team management choosing to play hard-working 27-year-old Abhimanyu Mithun, Arvind had to wait for his chance — not an ideal state of mind to be in for a 32-year-old whose career is often troubled by injuries. Luck, however, shone on Arvind when Vinay injured his calf in the very first Ranji Trophy game and the left-armer was called up for the second match.
A genuine wicket-taker who was one of the vital cogs in Karnataka’s dominance in 2013-14 and 2014-15 where they swept to glory in Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy, Arvind showed what the team had missed. On a seaming track at the Eden Gardens, Arvind wrecked Delhi with superb performance (4/12) in the first innings. He then rattled Assam with a 5/70 — again in the first innings — before accumulating five wickets against Vidarbha.
Against Rajasthan this week, he worked brilliantly with senior colleague Vinay, picking 4/36 and 3/19 to reestablish his place in the side. Arvind is now Karnataka’s leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps at an eye-popping average of 11.31.
“He’s always been a fighter,” said coach J Arun Kumar. “Even when he had an injury, to come back to form said a lot about his character. He was away from cricket for two years, then he came back and even played for India. We always knew he was a fighter and a great team man. Even when he is there (in the playing XI), he keeps the atmosphere really good. He is a true passionate lover of Karnataka, and gives his best every time.”
Media shy Arvind said he knew it was going to be tough this season but was prepared to scrap. “It is about the team combination and whether I fit in or not. I got an opportunity in the second match and I have been utilising it in a proper way. I’ve just been bowling to my strengths. Normally my strength is bowling in good areas and making the ball swing. That’s what I've been doing in the four matches so far.
“If you have a strong mindset then you can comeback easily. I rely mostly on my fitness and hard work. Most of the time, I stick to my strengths and tell myself, whatever you do, give it your best. My motto in life and sport is simple – keep working hard.”
Arvind, whose economy is also a miserly 2.04 runs per over this Ranji Trophy, said he loves bowling with Vinay. “We discuss in the team meeting on partnerships and we strategise. For example, if we bowl 3-4 maiden overs, we know a wicket will be around the corner as the batsmen will force themselves to get runs. It’s been working for us. In fact it worked in the match against Rajasthan.”
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