It’s Gujarat’s day

Gujarat executed a first-rate demolition job to undermine a supposedly much-superior Delhi side, winning by 139 runs, to claim its maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title here at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

If its manner of victory in Saturday’s semifinal against Tamil Nadu was worthy of applause, the style, the performance and result on Monday all gained perfection unseen thus far.

A maiden List-A century for skipper Parthiv Patel (105, 119b, 10x4) and sizeable middle-order contributions from Rujul Bhatt (60, 74b, 4x4, 1x6) and Chirag Gandhi (44 n.o., 39b, 4x4) helped Gujarat post 273. Then under lights, with the ball swinging appreciably, R.P. Singh (10-2-42-4) and Jaspreet Bumrah (9.3-1-28-5) ran through Delhi.

Only one among the top-five reached double figures. Singh bowled Rishabh Pant off the first delivery and then had Shikhar Dhawan charge at him and hole out at short-cover. It brought to end a disappointing run of late for Dhawan and his form will certainly be a cause for concern ahead of the Australia tour.

Painful stay

Skipper Gautam Gambhir endured a painful stay, repeatedly getting beaten outside the off-stump. He was finally relieved of his misery, again by Singh, who bowled a deadly first spell of 7-2-23-4.

The only displays of resistance came first from Unmukt Chand (33) and then Pawan Negi (57). But with wickets tumbling at the other end during their respective stays, there was only so much either could do.

Earlier, after Gujarat was put in to bat, Ishant Sharma bowled a tight first spell (5-0-12-1). From the other end, Navdeep Saini, though a touch profligate, kept control. The duo accounted for a wicket each as Gujarat reached 44 for two from 10 overs. It was then that Rujul and Parthiv took flight.

Aided by some insipid ground fielding — Delhi conceded five overthrows twice — the two scored at more than six an over for most part. Gujarat’s 100 came in 19 overs and then the 150 barely six overs later. Even as Parthiv scored the bulk of these runs, Rujul chose to do with the bat what he did with the ball against Tamil Nadu — of being the ideal foil.

Much of Parthiv’s runs came square of the wicket (seven of 11 boundaries), especially on the off-side. Though, when the ball was pitched further up, he did capitalise, working them mostly to the mid-on and mid-wicket areas.

Lucky escape

The left-hander, after being reprieved once on 67, dropped by Manan Sharma off his own bowling, went on to bring up his century off 111 balls. For Rujul, the six into the mid-wicket stands off paceman Subodh Bhati’s bowling after stepping out, was the highlight.

The association, worth 149 runs until then, ended when Rujul was out caught behind with the score at 193. It seemed a perfect launchpad for a final-overs flourish, but Gujarat suffered a mini-collapse. Three wickets fell for 11 runs and in the PowerPlay overs (36-40) Gujarat scored just 23.

However, a 42-run stand between Chirag Gandhi and Rush Kalaria for the seventh wicket ensured a highly-competitive total. Coupled with scoreboard pressure it finally proved telling.

The scores:

Gujarat: Parthiv Patel b Negi 105, Priyank Panchal b Saini 14, Bhargav Merai lbw b Ishant 5, Rujul Bhatt c Pant b Rana 60, Chirag Gandhi (not out) 44, Axar Patel b Saini 6, Manpreet Juneja c Gambhir b Manan 6, Rush Kalaria c Pant b Bhati 21, R.P. Singh c Milind b Bhati 0, Karan Patel (run out) 1, Jasprit Bumrah c Chand b Negi 2; Extras (lb-2, w-6, nb-1): 9; Total (in 50 overs): 273.

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-44, 3-193, 4-193, 5-204, 6-224, 7-266, 8-266, 9-270.

Delhi bowling: Saini 9-0-46-2, Ishant 9-0-39-1, Bhati 6-0-43-2, Rana 4-0-18-1, Milind 10-0-53-0, Manan 6-0-36-1, Negi 6-0-36-2.

Delhi: Rishabh Pant b Singh 0, Shikhar Dhawan c Juneja b Singh 5, Unmukt Chand b Bumrah 33, Gautam Gambhir c Rijul b Singh 9, Milind Kumar lbw Singh 0, Nitish Rana c Kalaria b Bumrah 12, Manan Sharma (run out) 2, Pawan Negi c Merai b Bumrah 57, Subodh Bhati lbw b Bumrah 3, Ishant Sharma b Bumrah 0, Navdeep Saini (not out) 0; Extras (lb-6, w-6, nb-1): 13; Total (in 32.3 overs): 134.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-27, 4-31, 5-59, 6-64, 7-70, 8-80, 9-100.

Gujarat bowling: Singh 10-2-42-4, Kalaria 6-0-21-0, Axar 5-0-30-0, Bumrah 9.3-1-28-5, Rujul 2-0-7-0

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There is life outside cricket too: Dhawan

The line between a bad shot and a good one is thin. If it goes to the boundary it is hailed as good. If it travels to a hand then, obviously, it is bad.

Shikhar Dhawan views it differently. For him, it is just a shot. “The end result is the remuneration for your effort,” he smiles. It does. It can stall the team’s progress or propel his reputation high. It is all subjective.

“Sometimes you have to play cross-batted and take smart risks. I always back my shots. I know this particular shot gives me runs. It can also cost me my wicket.

“I have to accept it because only I know what is best for me. It is not that I am irresponsible because I get out playing shots,” said Dhawan, prepared to give his best on Australian pitches.

He does give the impression of nonchalance on being dismissed. “No. That is not me. I try to hit the ball by stepping out. I do it to unnerve the bowler.

“I like to make an impact with aggression. Rohit (Sharma) and I approach the task in a similar manner. But people say we appear lazy. We are not casual and certainly not reckless.”

Shades of Virat Kohli?

“I admire Virat for his self belief and amazing fitness. We look up to him. He is so grounded despite fame and success.”

For Dhawan, with four Test and eight One-Day International centuries, the important thing is to stay fit.

“My basics are strong and I know my preparations are also strong because I work on my skills all the time. You can’t do this unless you are fit. People miss this point.

“They mostly look at results and not the effort. I am improving and believe me I am at peace with the world. I laugh away my failures because that is the best way to deal with them.”

Philosophical world

When you delve deep, Dhawan lets you into his philosophical world, a zone where he is on his own, analysing his best and worst, joy and pain, anger and composure.

“When I get angry I used to speed on my bike. Slowly I realised the necessity to control my thoughts and anger. I don’t react to unpleasant gestures anymore. I have practised this art of remaining calm.

“I have learnt to be thick skinned if I have to excel at the crease. I have to let negative energy bounce off. It is true that cricket teaches you tolerance. I have learnt it.”

That sensational debut, 187 at Mohali against Australia, not a false stroke, not a frame of hesitancy, is vivid.

So is that weak moment when he got out second ball to Clint McKay at Visakhapatnam in an ODI in 2010. For the next 19 ODIs he just watched the play from outside.

“The pain of zero was replaced by the 187 against the same team. It has been a long journey and I have come to accept it as part of life. The beauty lies in adapting. Fine-tuning is necessary.

“Long career can be possible only with strong body and I concentrate on personal training, proper nutrition, meditation and look for inspirational quotes. At the crease deep breathing helps me tackle pressure.”

On a concluding note, Dhawan (30) analyses himself, “I criticise myself, appreciate myself; I am my best friend. I love cricket, but then I have learnt that one can be in love and still be detached.

“If I am dropped from the India team I can’t allow it to bring me down. It will hurt big time but then there is life outside cricket too.”

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