Vidarbha stunned the Indian domestic cricket in the last season (2017/18) after clinching the Ranji Trophy as well the Irani Trophy, both for the first time. Prior to their new Ranji Trophy season (2018/19) as a defending champion, Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal is confident on his team to showcase their top cricketing standard once again.
While Fazal is confident on his team before the new Ranji Trophy season, he also understands that they have to begin this season again from zero.
In the recent interview with Cricketnext, Fazal said, “As a team, we are very confident. Winning the Ranji Trophy last season was the greatest thing that’s ever happened to our association. We’re carrying that confidence but it’s history, it’s done and dusted. It’s a new season now and I’m sure because we’ve won the Ranji Trophy, Vidarbha won’t be taken lightly by any team.
“We have to be more aware and play very hard cricket this season. I mentioned this last season as well, we have to play hard cricket but also very smart cricket. We have to be aware of the situations and the processes. That’s the key. We don’t have to keep thinking that we won the Ranji last year and be happy about it. If you want to be a great side, you have to be consistent as a team. We’re prepared, it’ll be a great season for us.”
Though they have started as the underdog team in the last season, the 33-year-old Vidarbha captain has pointed out that their Ranji Trophy victory proves that they a good side because it can’t be won in a fluke.
Fazal said, “We don’t want to show anyone that we’re a good side. We don’t want to prove to anyone. We want to prove to ourselves. We won the Ranji Trophy because we played really well. Ranji Trophy can’t be won in a fluke. It’s a big season and a Test match series; it’s not like a T20 or a one-day series where you get lucky in a matter of a day or so. You have to play four days of hard cricket and very smart cricket. It was definitely not a fluke.”
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In further, Fazal opened up some crucial points to prove the authenticity of his words. In this talk, he includes their players’ positions at the present moment.
The captain added, “We were underdogs before the start of the season but we were an improving side. The tally of first-class matches we play is growing up. Seven of us played in the Duleep Trophy, it’s the first time it has happened for Vidarbha. (Rajneesh) Gurbani is playing at a higher level, Umesh (Yadav) is playing at a higher level consistently. We’re a different side now.”
After Chandrakant Pandit has taken the charge of the team as a head coach, the team has changed hugely to stun the Indian cricket by winning Ranji Trophy.
Talking about Pandit’s work, Fazal said, “The rapport is very consistent. I’ve spent a lot of time and learning a lot of things from him. Reading the situations, field placements, everything. Captaincy is mostly when we’re fielding, isn’t it? You don’t need to teach everyone when we’re batting. The situation is already there. It’s mainly about the field placements and bowling changes. That’s what I’m learning from him.”
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When Fazal was asked about the one standout thing Pandit has infused into the side, the captain replied, “That hunger to win games.”
Since the legendary Mumbai batsman Wasim Jaffer has joined in the side in June 2015, he has become a crucial member in the side. The most run-scorer in Ranji Trophy history, Wasim Jaffer, provided an important contribution in the last season too with 595 runs in 13 innings (average 54.09).
Talking about Jaffer’s contribution in the team, Fazal said, “For him, he’s giving back to cricket. Cricket has given a lot to him, he wants to give back to the game. The game itself – for him and for me – is a big motivation. He brings a lot to the team. The experience… 200+ first-class games is massive. You can’t buy that. He shares a lot. The one thing that’s very good about him is he’s very approachable to everyone, very friendly. Time to time he’ll give you the stick also, but he’s very friendly and approachable. Youngsters are very free and confident to reach him any time they want.”
Fazal himself was in a brilliant form with the bat in last season as he was the second leading run-scorer in 2017/18 Ranji Trophy with 912 runs in 14 innings (average 70.15), including five centuries and one half-century. However, he still hasn’t earned an opportunity this time for the national team selection. Fazal has played only ODI for India, back in 2016 Zimbabwe tour, where he played a match-winning 55 unbeaten knock in his debutant game to secure a 10-wicket victory for his team.
When he was asked to not getting an opportunity at least for India A during the England tour in this June-July, despite brilliant consistent batting performances in domestic cricket, disappointed Fazal answered, “If you include the Irani Trophy I scored more than 1000 runs. I don’t know. To be honest I was definitely disappointed, as a cricketer and elite professional you are disappointed. Even if you’re doing a job somewhere, you’re performing and don’t get the rewards, you get disappointed. Until a few weeks back I was very disappointed.”
However, the 33-year-old has now realized that he has to start it freshly again in the new Ranji season as the selectors are mostly focusing the bunch of youngsters, who are also performing in the good consistent way.
Fazal added, “It’s a fresh season now, if I keep cribbing, it won’t help me in performing in the next season. Because it keeps coming in my mind on why I wasn’t selected, that’s an uncontrollable thing. Selectors must have thought youngsters are doing well. And to be honest, youngsters are performing. Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw are performing, it’s not like they’re not performing and they’re there in the side. They have the age on their side.”
