Bangalore medium pacer pulls a fast one

The wait is finally over for Indian cricket’s ‘Nobody’s Child’. After being ignored by the national selectors for the last few years, R Vinay Kumar has finally made it into the Indian team. He was named in the 15-member Indian squad for the Twenty 20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies from April 30.

“I was expecting the call, especially after I bowled well in the IPL,” said Vinay, who has been the highest wicket-taker in domestic cricket twice in the last three years, including this season. “I had to wait so long for this chance. It’s a double bonanza for me not only to be part of the team but also represent the country in a World Cup,” he added.

It’s been a long journey for the son of an automobile spare parts dealer in the small town of Davangere. Despite taking the highest number of wickets in first class cricket in 2007-08 and 2009-10, Vinay was not considered for a central contract by the BCCI. But he did not lose hope and believed that his day would come.

And this IPL proved to be just that. Having missed RCB’s opening game, Vinay went wicketless in the next two games. But three wickets in an over against Mumbai and four wickets against Chennai  brought him back in the reckoning. 

But Vinay is aware that there is still a long way to go. “I want to make full use of this opportunity,” he said. “I just want to bowl well. If I bowl well, I will be rewarded, just the way I have been rewarded for my hard work,” added Vinay, who now wants to celebrate his inclusion in the Indian team by helping RCB become the IPL champions.