Biswajit JhaSudeep Tyagi’s rise from a net bowler of the Uttar Pradesh team just two seasons back, to the newest face of the Indian team, is meteoric to say the least. Tyagi, then an unknown bowler, came at the Uttar Pradesh nets like several other promising youngsters. But one particular day changed the fortune for this lad forever!
Impressed with the lanky lad’s pace and swing, Uttar Pradesh captain Md Kaif urged the state selectors to have a look at the rookie. The guy then impressed the selectors too and rightfully got a place in Uttar Pradesh Ranji team for the 2007-08 season.
Tyagi did not let his captain and the selectors down. In his debut Ranji season, he became the highest wicket-taker (41 wickets) with his hostile bowling and raised hopes in the cricketing circle as the most promising fast bowler in the domestic circuit.
But fate had other things in store as he could not play a single match in the 2008-09 season owing to a career threatening back injury and missed out an opportunity to press his claim to the Indian team when he was replaced in the Chennai Super Kings team in the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008 by Manpreet Singh Gony, who went to play for India in ODIs riding on the back of his superb IPL show.
Tyagi, Gony’s actual replacement, was then cooling his heels back in Lucknow and busy preparing for his comeback. And he came with a bang in IPL 2009, and proved that his 2007 Ranji exploits was not a fluke. He bowled with a lot of fire for Chennai Super Kings and again came into the national contention in no time.
His IPL performance earned him a place in the Indian Emerging Players squad that toured Australia for a tri-series, with South Africa and New Zealand being the other two teams. In the tournament, Tyagi came out as the best bowler with 14 wickets at 18.21 a piece.
The 21-old-year greenhorn, who idolises Brett Lee and Zaheer Khan, again proved his worth as a genuine quick bowler in the recently concluded Challenger Trophy, where he helped India Red bundle Dhoni’s India Blue out in the final for just 82 runs and clinched the NKP Salve Trophy for his team.
Though Tyagi is quick and has the ability to swing the ball, coming up with sharp in-cutters, qualities essential for any good fast bowler, he should keep his cool and composure which are the most difficult things to do at a time when financial security is dependent on playing for the nation alone.But he should remember that donning the India colours is more than any other privilege that an Indian cricketer can aspire for. He would represent a billion strong nation, represent people who treat the game as a vital accessory to their lives. It is a feeling and honour that can not be bought by money or fame.
Zeecric wishes Sudeep a long innings in the Indian dressing room.
First Published: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 00:00
(The views expressed by the author are personal)
