“I really hope and wish that I get a chance to play for the Indian Test team this year…”
There is a lot of hope and optimism in Baba Indrajit’s voice when he makes this statement even after being snubbed several times by the national selectors. Indrajeet, who has been a consistent performer in the red ball circuit, is still waiting for his India a pause. The last time he came close to playing time was with India A in 2017, but that only saw him spend time on the bench against Australia.
Since 2016, Indrajit has yet to put a foot wrong at the first-class level and continues to score season after season. He has averaged over 66 in red-ball competitions over the last six years and has scored runs for Tamil Nadu in the middle order. The classy right-handed batsman scored three centuries in last year’s Ranji Trophy season, followed by a positive one in the Duleep Trophy final, but still didn’t make the cut for India A.
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“I have been doing very well at first-class level since 2016 but somehow I am not getting a break. Every time I think I will be there this time, I am disappointed not to see my name there. I don’t even know the reason for this. cricketnext,
Has there been any communication with the men who matter? “There has been no contact from anyone so far, but after I scored a hundred in the Duleep Trophy final, I spoke to Sunil Joshi sir and he told me that you are on the radar and we are following you. ‘Maybe better things in the future’, he said. But even after that Bangladesh tour happened and my name was not in it. It is certainly disappointing, but it is not in my hands, so there is not much I can do on this front,” says Indrajeet.
‘It’s natural to be disappointed’
There is a tinge of disappointment remembering this period but the 28-year-old looks to stick to the process of scoring runs at every opportunity and does not expect to miss out again.
“It’s very natural to be discouraged at times. I wouldn’t say I don’t get discouraged at all. It’s frustrating after a certain point because it gets stale and you start wondering where you are in life and how to take the next step.” pick up. Of course these thoughts come but it is just a phase. After all this, the only thing you can do is to perform at the domestic level and hope that you perform really well so that you don’t miss Go,” says Indrajit.
Ranji Trophy is back this time with a full season and a return to the home and away format. Tamil Nadu have enjoyed considerable success with the white ball but have struggled in the red ball competition.
Indrajit was named captain for the upcoming season and he is enjoying the opportunity and responsibility to turn things around.
“This season it’s very important. As you said we haven’t been the best red-ball team in the last few years and we haven’t even qualified. So I think that’s a responsibility in itself. Individual From a perspective, I’m not trying to change or do anything differently because it adds too much pressure.
“Ranji Trophy is not an easy place. It’s important to find a pattern and whenever you spot your look, just try and count it and magnify it. I am not trying to do anything different or new to attract the attention of the selectors because that puts a lot of pressure on me. Whenever I keep things simple, they have come to the right place. I am trying to do the same and not put too much pressure on myself.
As far as Indrajit is concerned, hundreds are in currency. There is a popular belief that if hundreds don’t work for you, get them daddy hundreds.
Indrajit partially agrees and insists on continuity.
“It’s true. Small hundreds sometimes go unnoticed. It is important to score such a big hundred – say a double hundred to attract attention. But I personally feel that if someone is scoring so many hundreds consistently Consistency is also important but it is also important that once you have your eye in, you should make it big enough to attract attention,” says Indrajeet.
positive intention
The 2021-22 season saw Indrajit score three centuries in the Ranji Trophy and make his Duleep Trophy chances count with a fluent hundred for South Zone in the final. Centuries have been good as usual for the right-handed batsman but his positive intent in the middle order has stood out.
Known as a batsman who has the ability to finish the session well, Inderjeet is not limiting himself anymore.
“Not a conscious effort, but I think, even in the last Ranji Trophy season, I scored three hundreds and the strike-rate was slightly higher. Overall the mindset has evolved a bit. I am not restricted by my mindset. If there is a shot to be played, I don’t restrict myself anymore. Whenever I am in a calm place of mind and in a good position, I feel I can hit the ball better.”
Last time it was the red-ball season and Tamil Nadu failed to qualify for the knockouts, which meant little playing time for Indrajith. It is not every day that a batsman hits the patch that Indrajit did last year and a few more games, in the knockouts, could certainly have boosted his chances of making it to the next level.
“Obviously when you are in good form, you want to play more games. Be it Ranji Trophy or the next level – India A. Last year, we had only three matches and we could not have won the last match against Jharkhand, otherwise we would have qualified. This would have added more value to my hundred. I’d like to play more – maybe a quarter-final or semi-final for Tamil Nadu and then get a century there. But I am happy that I scored a hundred in the Duleep Trophy final but again if it was because of the win, things would have been a bit different,” says Indrajeet.
While success and consistency have come in the longer formats, Indrajeet is yet to establish his reputation in the shortest format. He was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad this year and thoroughly enjoyed his stint with the franchise and coaches Brendon McCullum and Abhishek Nayar.
Indrajith was not a part of Tamil Nadu’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy team and feels it is only a matter of time before perceptions about his white-ball game change.
“It was a great experience. This is my 10th year in the domestic circuit and for any cricketer who has been in the domestic circuit for so long… wants to play the IPL. It was the same with me. I am really looking forward to playing the IPL. Want to…wasn’t selected in Tamil Nadu squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year so went back and worked really hard on my white ball game.Yes perception needs to change but I never felt That I am not a good white-ball player. I also understand that perceptions differ and you need to perform at that level to change people’s perception.
“I worked on my game, did really well in Vijay Hazare last year, kept in trials for KKR. I’m really proud of myself because I was in the middle of nowhere and then suddenly things turned around. I put in the work for a very long time and was rewarded for it. Overall it was a great experience with KKR and I am sure the perception about the white ball will change soon. For example, KL Rahul was initially called more of a Test match player and is now seen as more of a white ball player. If the basics are right then things change for everyone.
“Being around Brendon McCullum and Abhishek Nayar taught me a lot. Even more so with Abhishek as he is very close to the Indian players and I have spent a lot of time with him in trials and played with him in the past. Brendon McCullum is a very calm character and he focuses more on connecting with the players and making them more comfortable. I learned a lot from him,” says Indrajeet.
darkness, withdrawal and inspiration
Dinesh Karthik has been a source of inspiration for many departed players and his return to the Indian team at the age of 37 for the T20 World Cup has given new hope to many. DK’s journey, which includes several comebacks, gives a lot of confidence to close friend Indrajit, who is very proud of his senior partner.
“It’s a great motivation because it’s a great comeback to play and play the World Cup and he’s made such a comeback. I’m so proud of his journey. I’ve watched him closely and when you see what he’s done , So it gives you the confidence to stick at it and keep doing it and take it to the next level. Even if you are 30 or 31. If you are fit and doing well then age is just a number. Things can change very quickly. Even Mike Hussey or Suryakumar Yadav, they made their debut very late. Dinesh Karthik came back at 37 and played the World Cup as a leading wicket-keeper. A close friend Being, I am very proud of and I consider it a great source of inspiration,” says Indrajeet.
Indrajeet has gone under the knife thrice with two surgeries on the right shoulder and one on the left. The stay away from the game was a very challenging period for the right-handed batsman, who not only lost out on significant playing time but also had to get back into the groove after months away from the field.
“It was very difficult. It was my third surgery and it has been very difficult to play. I was away for seven months and then you have to get in shape, fitness basically matches fitness. Your batting form is different. There will be no continuity. It was a very dark time and I did not face these situations for the first time and it made me learn a lot about life. During that period, you will not be able to play and can only rehab . Even if you have done well in the domestic circuit before, you can’t keep doing that. There will be pauses and lack of consistency. So getting back into form, regaining match fitness and grabbing attention again is not going to be easy. Not at all. It is not easy to become an active cricketer from a young age and then not playing cricket for seven-eight months several times. It takes a toll on your mind,” recalls Indrajeet.
The upcoming Ranji Trophy season holds immense significance for Indrajit both personally and from the team’s point of view. He is not looking too far ahead and wants to continue enjoying the game. Snubs are at the back of his mind but his only focus is to make it huge whenever he sets his sights in.
“One of my big goals in life is to win the Ranji Trophy, which it always has been. I also have to be realistic and practical. The target is to win but I think first I need to focus on the current situation and try to do well and maybe qualify this year. On the personal front, it is important to keep things simple and continue to enjoy the game. If I don’t enjoy the game, the runs won’t come. These peeps will come up whenever I have an eye and I will try to make it huge,” indicated Indrajeet.
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