We decided to attack in the morning: Gony
First Published : 12 Dec 2012, 11:31
Last Modified : 12 Dec 2012, 15:28
Mumbai, Dec 11: Manpreet Singh Grewal (Gony) halted Mumbai’s chase to surpass Punjab’s first innings total with four wickets in the morning session to help the visitors gain three points on the basis of a first innings lead. The Punjab pacer, who rattled the Mumbai lower-order after claiming the key wicket of Hiken Shah, finished with a fiver for a second time in the Ranji Trophy 2012-13.
Speaking to the press after the match at the Wankhede Stadium, Gony reflected on day’s play and his bowling.
Excerpts from his press interaction:
On the planning when they came out to bowl in the morning
The planning was the same to bowl [a good] line and length and control the course of the innings. And then we decided to bowl in a same area and we picked up few wickets.
On whether they thought they would be able to bowl Mumbai out in the first innings
No, we didn’t think that. Rohit was batting well and he had played good shots and so we had thought that we will come in the morning and attack and bowl a certain line. So we did that and we got control [of the situation] and we bowled them out.
On the wickets he took in the morning being the turning point of the match
The thinking was to take wickets as soon as possible. My role was to attack, yesterday [on the third day] I had attacked less and today Bhajji Paa [Harbhajan Singh] told me to attack. So, I did and got wickets.
On what was going on in the middle when Ankeet Chavan ran through their line-up
It wasn’t too clear what was happening and what was not happening. He was bowling very well and we couldn’t make out what to do. Everyone was playing their own shots and were not able to control the innings.
On whether he thought the situation was little unpredictable when they came out to bowl again
The way they attacked it felt that maybe the runs can be chased down but Bhajji paa [Harbhajan Singh] told us to stay calm, [and] nothing will happen. Siddharth [Kaul] and Sandy [Sandeep Sharma] bowled well.
On what was different in the last session from the morning session while bowling
The game had become different. My line was a little different.
On role of Punjab’s bowling coach Harvinder Singh in the pacers doing well
Harvinder Singh has been working with us in the nets and he explains to us what to do and how to do it. The pacers are doing well. Siddharth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma have taken 29 and 30 wickets respectively and I have taken 21. I haven’t played in one match. He talks to everyone. And talks to us in every break about how things are going and what needs to be done.
On Sandeep Sharma
He is doing well and he is learning. He was come from winning the Under-19 World Cup. We talk to him and as a senior player try to explain things to him and he implements what we tell him.
On his good run this season
The season is too long right now we have qualified for the knock outs. My aim is to play for India. I am bowling very quick and Bhajji Paa [Harbhajan Singh] is backing me and so is Vikram Paaji [Rathore].
