Spinning it right

Piyush Chawla is slowly making a mark — heartening news for a cricket-crazy nation searching for someone to carry forward the baton once Kumble calls it a day

MUMBAI: Piyush Chawla was so full of promise during his teenage years, that former India wicket-keeper Kiran More offered him a stint with Baroda, the state association of which he was secretary till very recently. It’s a different matter that the transfer never happened.

More recalls how Chawla, who plays for Uttar Pradesh, caught his eye in an under-16 game. Now, after three one-day internationals, Chawla, still very much in his teens, has proudly displayed his full repertoire of tricks, including a straighter one that crashed into Herschelle Gibbs’ stumps on Tuesday.

While these are early days to script out a glorious future for Chawla, there are enough people keeping their fingers crossed in the hope that the young leg-spinner will be the answer to an often posed question: Who is India’s spinner for the future?

After making his Test debut against England in March last year, the second youngest Indian, at 17 years and 75 days, after Tendulkar, Chawla went back to first class cricket and also captained the Indian under-19 team. He shot to fame by dismissing Sachin Tendulkar with a googly, a delivery that pundits rate highly, in a Challenger Trophy the previous season. He also was India’s highest wicket-taker in the Junior World Cup in Colombo. Chawla believed that he made his Test debut too early. He maintained that he is happy that the selectors gave him a chance. When DNA caught up with him recently, Chawla’s confidence was unshakable. “I am not disappointed that I played only one game for India. It is just a matter of time before I came back,” he had said.

Now, with nine wickets in three games, Chawla seems to be back on track. With Harbhajan Singh not in the immediate scheme of things and Murli Karthik being forced to play in County circles, Anil Kumble entering the twilight zone, Chawla would well hog the limelight.

South Zone selector and former left-arm Test spinner Venkatapathy Raju believes Chawla can take over once Kumble decides to call it a day. “He has bowled brilliantly so far,” Raju told DNA on Wednesday. “Chawla has a very good googly; he turns the ball and has great potential. It is important for him to play more games and get more exposure. He should further improve with a little experience under his belt,” Raju said.

More, who headed the National selection committee when Chawla was first picked to the Test team, has always been a strong supporter of the youngster. “A spinner matures with experience. I am sure in two to three years he will be at the top of his game,” More told DNA.  However, More is not sure if one-dayers are the best form of the game for a budding youngster. “I wouldn’t want someone like Chawla to play too many one day games initially. He would greatly benefit if he spends more time with the Indian squad. He should have been with the team even during the England series and played tour games. They shouldn’t have sent him back after the Ireland and Scotland legs,” More added.

The former chief selector also sees the potential in Chawla to become a good all-rounder. “He is a good fielder and can also bat. If he is groomed well he can make a fine all-rounder,” he said. For someone who once upon a time dabbled with opening the batting, Chawla’s game is pregnant with promise.