Mumbai, Nov 13: Rajasthan skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar rued the dropped catches, half chances and missed run-out opportunities of the top-order Mumbai batsmen Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar, who went on to score a century and a double-century respectively, as the Elite Ranji Trophy encounter between the two sides ended in a Day-4 draw.
Speaking to the media in a post-match interaction, Kanitkar discussed the lessons learnt from the game as Rajasthan head to Delhi to play Railways from November 17 to 20. He also laid to rest fears about his shoulder injury saying, “Hopefully before the next game I should be fine […] I am feeling much better.”
Excerpts from the press conference:
On whether he was surprised at the ease with which Mumbai chased 530 runs
Actually we dropped a few chances and that definitely went against us; especially against good batsmen, you can’t drop catches or [miss] run outs, and but it happens and that’s what we have to learn and not do in the next game. So now the goal before the next game will be to think about we did and get better.
On SK Yadav’s counter-attack of 87 off 68 balls
I don’t have much [of an] idea about how he plays but he batted really well. There was hardly any false shot. If he is batting that well, if he is playing such good shots, you take that; [you] can’t help it.
On whether he smelled a chance at the time that Rohit Sharma’s catch was spilled
Definitely, they were far away at that time so definitely we thought we had a chance, even till very close. Things happen in cricket that people don’t account for so [I was] hoping that we would get a break. [Spilling the catch] did make a difference because [Sharma] scores very quickly and dominates the bowling, so it can really take the match away very quickly.
On Rajasthan’s bowling
My bowlers really bowled well, [they] put in everything they had, especially the seamers [were] spot on in every spell. It was difficult going because of the heat and the wicket also was a good one to bat on. I think from the last game we have still moved in the positive direction even though we have lost the first innings lead. We have improved a little bit.
On whether he would have liked to have an off-spinner in hindsight
I would have liked three spinners, three fast-bowlers […]. With our team we have limitations and we try to make the most of it. It all depends on the players you have and how you use them.
On under-bowling Ashok Menaria
No, after I came in [from a fielding injury], Akash [Chopra] bowled him a few overs. We were [trying to use] our main bowlers to get wickets.
On Deepak Chahar
He didn’t pick up a wicket but a few catches were dropped [off his bowling]. He bowled top-notch in this game and it wasn’t easy to do because the opposition was very good [and] the wicket was very good to bat on. He did himself proud even though he didn’t get a wicket.
On whether the wicket was demotivating for the bowlers
No, it is not. I think the ball moved about a bit when it was hard enough. Later, when it got softer, it didn’t move much but till then it was moving around. Our bowlers bowled well, their bowlers bowled well. It is just a matter of taking your chances when they come. I don’t think effort in bowling was lacking but fielding definitely, [the] catching [was shoddy].
On Abhishek Nayar’s innings of 243 runs
I think he batted exceptionally well. [He] applied himself. He is an attacking batsman but he still made sure [that] he stayed on the wicket, which is different from his nature. His natural way of batting is to attack. He has played very well [and] I hope he has a good future ahead.
