On why Ranji remains unconquerable

Déjà vu prevails. From almost tasting blood to biting dust —yet again Gujarat team’s tryst with Ranji continued to end in disappointment despite the valiant efforts to reach the knock outs. Their defeat, almost ‘from the jaws of victory’ in the last match of the league phase against Mumbai in Valsad was a shocker. Despite enjoying a 99-run first innings lead, Parthiv and his boys failed to capitalise on the lead and suffered an outright defeat.

Another missed opportunity — but why? Gujarat needed three points to qualify for knockout phase. In fact they had taken first innings lead and had the match ended in a draw they would have advanced. But Mumbai showed their might and fight to elbow out Gujarat. A retrospect on what went wrong may perhaps hinge on the fact that probably there’s a loss of temperament among the energetic and GenX batsmen of Gujarat. Or in simple terms, the present crop of upcoming cricketers needs lessons on patience. Like fast food, the cosmetic charm of swashbuckling and money-spinning Indian Premier League kind of cricket sways their motivation.

I can visualise what the coaches must have said in their speeches during the close door meetings after the disastrous match in Valsad. Something on the lines of what Shah Rukh Khan as a hockey coach of women’s team remarked in Chak De! “It is not easy to carry the load of expectations. If you fail in a particular season, it means you have taken a backstep. The burden of defeat is very hard to carry. To be out of contest after getting so close reflects your weaknesses.”

Gujarat players have enough quality time to introspect their mistakes. It is time they realised their own follies instead of their coaches pointing them out. Youngsters in particular, Manpreet Juneja, Smit Patel, Krushang Patel and Chirag Gandhi should rewind their match videos when they were in good knick — go back to the basics. If required they should play district tournaments to regain confidence. They should not be ashamed or feel embarrassed about it. Failures are part of the game, but how one takes it and overcomes is what matters.

It is very essential that they do not close their ears to seniors or their coaches’ advice while rectifying their errors. When our own ideas fail to deliver it is all the more important or wiser to be more attentive towards our well-wishing teachers.

Crisis is the acid test for abilities. Had Juneja, Smit and Chirag stuck to their basics they would have become heroes. But they attempted big shots when all that was required from them was to stick around. They need to learn from these mistakes and ensure not to repeat them in the future. Very much like Akshar Patel, Jaspreet Bumrah and Bhargav Merai who rose to occasions. With international players like Parthiv and Venugopal Rao, the youngsters should learn lot of things, especially their preparations for the game.

One may argue that these players are very young, but then, they are also professionals who earn Rs1.25lakh per match — which certainly makes them accountable. There are many cricketers fighting for those coveted 15 spots in the Indian dressing room. That means if you fail, not only you will be questioned but also sidelined.

Ego should almost be a forgotten chapter. In cricket, they say, one bad season is enough to push you back by half a decade. In such a situation there is no need to take undue pressure, but go back to basics and individual elements.