It has been two decades since Devendra Bundela made his Ranji Trophy debut against Tamil Nadu on February 12, 1996 for Madhya Pradesh. A soft spoken, gentle cricketer, he has been the mainstay of the lineup over the years. Bundi bhai as he is affectionately known will be creating history when he dons the Madhya Pradesh cap for the 137th time in the match against Baroda (to be played from November 29 to December 2, 2016).
When he stepped on the field for Madhya Pradesh in the match against Railways in the ongoing 2016-17 season of Ranji Trophy, Bundela equaled Amol Muzumdar’s 136 appearances in Ranji Trophy and is will surpass the former Mumbai captain’s record in the eighth-round game. Bundela has amassed 8755 runs in the premier domestic competition and is the third highest run-getter behind former Mumbai captains -Wasim Jaffer and Muzumdar.
Speaking about forthcoming milestone, Bundela said, “I am feeling good. That I have played all my matches for Madhya Pradesh is a big thing for me.”
Reflecting on the incredible journey he said, “I never thought I would play for so long. I would take it season by season. When one season is done, I would prepare for the next. (In the process, I) didn’t quite realise when I completed 20 years of playing cricket. Half a lifetime passed in playing the game, which has its own charm of preparations and everything that comes with it.”
Looking back, he further added, “When I was playing in the team as a regular member it was a little different. As captain, I learnt a lot of things (has been leading the team since 2000). When you are not the captain, you think more about yourself and concentrate (on your game); being a captain you have to think about the entire team and take everyone along and look into all the aspects. You have to manage on all fronts which is a little difficult. It was a challenging task and I have been trying to do my best and it feels good.”
Speaking about the most memorable moments, he said, “The 1999 season was good for us when we played the (Ranji Trophy) final. So, the memory of the final is of course there (special). On a personal level, whenever I have scored a hundred it has been special and also whenever the team has won.
Patience has been the hallmark of the senior batsman’s career. Speaking about the key quality and imparting it to the younger generation, he said, “Patience is important in cricket. You can’t do everything at once. You can’t do it all in one season. It takes time (to achieve anything, learn and understand the game) so in cricket patience is very important. Sometimes the match will go well and sometimes it might not. When you are set (as a batsman) you should play as long as you can. You should not throw your wicket away. So, these things which I know, my experience, I try to teach the youngsters. I tell them to continue to work hard and not give up.”
Asked about his key to maintaining longevity and consistency he said, “Discipline and determination.
“Cricket has taught me a lot in life. Actually, cricket has only taught me everything about life like respecting others and the game as well. (You) respect the abilities of others. It has brought discipline into my life. If you want to play for a long time, then discipline should be part of your routine.”
As he looks to carry his journey with Madhya Pradesh cricket forward, he said, “Right now I am playing and I try to give my best and contribute to the team and towards winning. The effort is towards helping the team win with my performances and my captaincy. I will surely continue to remain associated with the game and Madhya Pradesh cricket (even when at some point I won’t play).” h
