India Blue pacer Pankaj Singh, who had given his team timely breakthroughs in their previous match against India Green, took two wickets in the first over in the Duleep trophy final against India Red to put his team in a commanding position.
He claimed Abhinav Mukund and Sudip Chatterjee in the last session after India Blue had declared their innings on 693. Speaking about his early breakthroughs, he said “The movement was there. It is required. Both balls cut in. More than pace, the movement is important according to me for a pacer and then areas and other aspects come into play. You have to put in the effort as well on tracks like these (which aid the batsmen).”
While India Red had struggled to pick wickets, the Gutam Gambhir-led team left them reeling at two for two. Speaking about the turn of events which has further tipped the balance in India Blue’s favour, Pankaj said, “This is cricket! Things can change suddenly in a session.”
Speaking about the fast bowler’s role on wickets which don’t aid them much he said, “On wickets where there isn’t much for fast bowler, after taking couple of early wickets, the role could be of containing; try and get one more wicket. If you get more that’s good for you but otherwise you have to adjust and adapt.”
Speaking about the pink ball he said, “There is difference between the two (red and pink) balls. If we talk about the Kookaburra, then there isn’t that much difference but if you compare with SG there is.
“Right now the new ball is swinging. The wicket is batting friendly or you can say aiding spin. On wickets like these you try to get the batsman out by reversing the ball, but whether this ball will reverse is difficult. How will you get out a batsman who is set, we will have to figure out,” he mentioned.
“If this ball deteriorates or scuffs up too much it has to be changed and if doesn’t scuff you can’t reverse it. The new ball will swing anyway, how it will behave otherwise if there is grass we will have to see. It will shape well. Here too my ball (delivery) is shaping well,” he explained.
