Making it loud and clear
Mirror Sports Bureau
Abhimanyu Mithun slams Karnataka team management, says he was fit and gave his all against TN.
Karnataka fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun yesterday took to social media to defend himself against accusations that he played in the quarterfinal against Tamil Nadu despite not being completely fit.
“We got all out for a paltry score,” he said referring to Karnataka’s totals of 88 and 150. “At the end of the day, we all made mistakes and that cost us the game. There was a physio’s report about my fitness before the game, which declared me fit. So to question my credibility and blame me for the loss is very petty.”
He also hit out directly at the team management saying, “When you can take credit for winning back-to-back trophies, you also have to take responsibility when your team doesn’t perform, instead of saving yourself. So grow up.”
Plagued by injuries
Mithun’s season this time was plagued with frequent injuries as a result of which he played only five games. He suffered a back spasm in the last league game against Maharashtra after bowling just two balls. He returned in the second innings to claim 2/44. He missed four games — against Vidarbha, Rajasthan, Odisha and Saurashtra — because of a groin injury.
Last week, a member of the selection committee, when asked if Mithun was fit for the game, said players must divulge on their own if they are suffering and shouldn’t let down the team’s cause for selfish reasons.
Mithun continued: “I am a team player and will do whatever it takes to make the team win. Injuries can happen any time when you are a fast bowler. Looking at the grassy wicket I pushed myself more and gave my best because of the pressure.”
Earlier this week, Karnataka coach J Arun Kumar said there are many in line waiting for an opportunity to play and a player has to be honest to himself and the team. “A lot of people are questioning the credibility of his fitness,” he had said. “Even I felt he could have bowled faster. It’s a very delicate issue. The player says he’s fit to the physio and after the first over, there are aches and pains. So he’s not giving 100 per cent and that’s bad for the team. Whoever is playing should be 100 per cent or they should make way for others. We have other people; David Mathias is waiting in good form. You shouldn’t be individualistic. But Mithun was fit. During the previous day also he was fit. He bowled really fast in the practice sessions. I don’t know what happened in the game.”
On his part, Mithun said: “At the end of the day, we win some and lose some. All we got to do is learn from our mistakes and make sure they don’t happen again.”
Abhimanyu Mithun slams Karnataka team management, says he was fit and gave his all against TN.
Karnataka fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun yesterday took to social media to defend himself against accusations that he played in the quarterfinal against Tamil Nadu despite not being completely fit.
Karnataka lost the tie in Vishapatnam by seven wickets and bowed out of the Ranji Trophy. It was also their first loss to TN since 2003. In a veiled attack on the team management, he said the entire team has to own up and he shouldn’t be made a scapegoat when things go wrong.
“We got all out for a paltry score,” he said referring to Karnataka’s totals of 88 and 150. “At the end of the day, we all made mistakes and that cost us the game. There was a physio’s report about my fitness before the game, which declared me fit. So to question my credibility and blame me for the loss is very petty.”
He also hit out directly at the team management saying, “When you can take credit for winning back-to-back trophies, you also have to take responsibility when your team doesn’t perform, instead of saving yourself. So grow up.”
Plagued by injuries
Mithun’s season this time was plagued with frequent injuries as a result of which he played only five games. He suffered a back spasm in the last league game against Maharashtra after bowling just two balls. He returned in the second innings to claim 2/44. He missed four games — against Vidarbha, Rajasthan, Odisha and Saurashtra — because of a groin injury.
Last week, a member of the selection committee, when asked if Mithun was fit for the game, said players must divulge on their own if they are suffering and shouldn’t let down the team’s cause for selfish reasons.
Mithun continued: “I am a team player and will do whatever it takes to make the team win. Injuries can happen any time when you are a fast bowler. Looking at the grassy wicket I pushed myself more and gave my best because of the pressure.”
Earlier this week, Karnataka coach J Arun Kumar said there are many in line waiting for an opportunity to play and a player has to be honest to himself and the team. “A lot of people are questioning the credibility of his fitness,” he had said. “Even I felt he could have bowled faster. It’s a very delicate issue. The player says he’s fit to the physio and after the first over, there are aches and pains. So he’s not giving 100 per cent and that’s bad for the team. Whoever is playing should be 100 per cent or they should make way for others. We have other people; David Mathias is waiting in good form. You shouldn’t be individualistic. But Mithun was fit. During the previous day also he was fit. He bowled really fast in the practice sessions. I don’t know what happened in the game.”
On his part, Mithun said: “At the end of the day, we win some and lose some. All we got to do is learn from our mistakes and make sure they don’t happen again.”
