Bengaluru, Sep 24: Ranji Trophy Champions, Rajasthan, lost their Irani Cup encounter to Rest of India for a second time in a row. The Hrishikesh Kanitkar-led side went down fighting as they put up a spirited performance in the second innings to make a match of it. Let down by a couple of run-outs early in the second innings, they could not recover to make ROI bat again. However, their skipper appreciated the efforts put in by his team while playing against a star-studded ROI line-up led by Cheteshwar Pujara.
Excerpts from Kanitkar’s post-match media interaction:
On losing and whether he felt he could have done something differently
We didn’t get too many runs in the first innings, which certainly makes a difference. But even in the second innings we were going very well at one point when myself and Robin were playing. And finally we just fell short by some 70-odd runs to make them bat again. We were looking to get a lead of at least a 100 runs and make them bat again. But we fell 70-80 runs short. The first innings batting let us down a bit.
On whether they missed anyone in the team like Rituraj Singh
No, because once when you come with a certain team, you just block those things out of the mind. So, you don’t tend to think about those things, once you know the eleven you are going to play with. You could if they were there, then it would have helped but it was a good opportunity for the players who played. Aniket [Choudhary] bowled very well. He showed that he had something in him. It was a good game for us. We found a few good players, which will help us in the season ahead.
On the running between the wickets
Tragic and comic both at the same time, but can’t say there is no reason for it. I can’t explain what happened. Whether it was loss of concentration or whatever, but better try and get better at it.
On whether there was no fight from his team
I don’t think so, we gave it our all. It was like any Ranji Trophy game you play; a crucial game. In the second innings we were batting really well. We were in control, but then the run-outs and a few bad shots and stuff [happened]. Especially in the second innings we had got it right and it was a matter of just going on batting.
On the run-out in which he was involved
It was a misunderstanding. […] It was one of those things.
On whether this was a bigger loss than the last time
No. […] Last time it was a bigger loss and fewer positives came out of that match. I am pretty happy with the way we faced Rest of India and it gives us a slight advantage [at the start of the season] on other teams because we already have a first-class game [under our belt]. So we should be building on that and not think about the result because ROI was definitely a very strong team. So we should get positives out of it.
On the timing of the Irani Cup
Playing after the season is better. [Which is what] the Board [BCCI] is going to do now. What happens is the team builds up a momentum and when you win the final and then if you are playing in the Irani Cup next, then there is a momentum that is there and I think that is more fair on the Ranji champion team to play at the end of the season.
On the road ahead
Just keep working hard on the basics. That is what we have been doing for the past two years, not really deviating or doing anything sensational but trying to play solid cricket and that is what we will try to do.
On the crucial run-outs
I don’t think we need to dwell too much on it. It was unfortunate. All of us have been playing [together] for nearly three seasons now and it hasn’t happened before. It is one of those things and we have to try to learn from it and move on.
On Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav’s bowling
I think they bowled well. I don’t know from what background they are coming right now. Umesh has obviously played Test matches but what he has done after that I don’t know or how Ishant was placed before the match. I cannot comment fairly on that. But whatever they bowled, they seemed to have bowled well. The wicket was a little slow, so maybe people thought that they weren’t as quick or whatever. I really don’t feel there was anything amiss.
On whether they were bowling in the right areas
Yes, I think so.
I feel we really batted well in the second innings. In the first innings the wicket was a little different. Robin [Bist] batted well. But I don’t think we weren’t tested. I think they bowled well [but] we were up to it. The spinners turned [the ball] pointedly.
On Harmeet Singh
He is promising. He has done well at the World Cup. But playing for India I think is a little way away. I think he has to keep working on his game and get the right kind of guidance and things like that. If he keeps working hard and puts in the hours it is possible.
