The Andhra cricket team faces a tough situation this season as it has graduated to the Elite group in the Ranji Trophy Championship. The team will cross swords with top teams such as Mumbai, Gujarat, Baroda, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Indian Railways and Madhya Pradesh, in matches that begin from October.
The team, with a fair sprinkling of youngsters, had languished in the Plate Division for six years in the country’s premier cricket championship. However, thanks to the guidance of captain Mohammed Kaif last season, the team progressed to the next stage.
In another two weeks time, the Andhra Ranji squad will be picked up and with a couple players performing well in the Butchi Babu and KSCA tourneys, the selectors have a tough job on hand to select the right mix.
For youngsters such as D.B. Prasanth, K.S. Bharat, M.U.B. Sriram, Ashwin Hebbar, Chiranjeevi, Ricky Bhui, Jyothi Sai Krishna (all batsmen) Stephen and Shasikanth (bowlers), this season is vital for it gives them the opportunity to draw the attention of the national selectors, who keenly watch the elite group players.
Onus on seniors
For seniors such as A.G. Pradeep and D. Sumanth, performance alone will count in the elite group, what with many talented youngsters breathing down their necks, for a slot. “A fifty or a sixty from them is not sufficient. They should score 600 or 700 runs a season to stay in the reckoning,” a senior coach, said on condition of anonymity.
Much will depend on all rounder D. Siva Kumar, last season’s star performer for the team. “Being ignored for the IPL might have upset him but he needs to carry on undeterred,” said ACA director M.S.K. Prasad.
Attitude and fitness crucial
Coaches felt, apart from technique, players need to focus on other aspects of the game such as attitude, fitness, concentration levels, motivation and the right diet. “The youngsters should be athletic fit,” opined junior coach Nirmal Kumar. Apart from players such as Ashwin, K.S. Bharat, K. Harish, M.U.B. Sriram and Kaif others are not athletic.
Need for personal trainer
“Most of the players, who train under the team trainer during the season, fail to hit the gym during off season. They should have a personal trainer during the off season to maintain fitness levels,” he felt. NCA Level III coach Krishna Rao said there were no excuses for failures at the top level.
“Players should learn how to raise the bar in a given situation. They should accept challenges and overcome them, with the right mindset,” he said.
Key players need to chip in to make a mark in the elite group this season
