Pic Courtesy: Xtratime
Kolkata: India A put up a splendid performance in the recently completed ODI and test series held at South Africa. Apart from winning the tri-angular ODI series the Indian side also made a remarkable comeback in the test series where they drew the series after losing the first test. In a WhatsApp call with www.xtratime.in correspondent Sabyasachi Bagchi, star Bengal and Indian Batsman Sudip Chatterjee shared his thoughts while returning to his country at Johannesburg airport. He would be returning to Kolkata tomorrow, after having a series of flights from Dubai to Mumbai and then back to Kolkata.
Despite not scoring huge runs Sudip was an integral part of the test squad. Sudip had a brilliant experience when for the first time he shared the dressing room with Indian batting Legend Rahul Dravid. “We had a specialist wicketkeeper Ishaan Kishan who was also the opening batsman. But we had to spend a lot of time in the field and as a result Ishaan was a bit tired and required rest so I was advised by Rahul Sir to open for my country. I was also advised to improve my mental condition, mental toughness and to get accustomed to any situation and score for the nation”
“The number in which you come to bat is unimportant as the logo of the nation in your jersey is enough to provide you motivation to do well. Only a few in the entire nation gets opportunities to play for the country” recounts Sudip on the how he was motivated and advised by Rahul Dravid.
Dravid had always followed the technique of ‘Switch On-Switch Off’ throughout his career and he taught this technique to Sudip. “You get very little amount of time to think about the shot which you played in the previous delivery. During that time when the bowler is returning to his spot you need to analyze what you did. If anything negative had happened one needs to forget that and focus for the next delivery.”
In the second test Sudip had scored 46 and 18 runs and he feels hugely enriched upon learning this technique. He feels imbibing this technique would be beneficial for his game to a huge extent.
“Rahul Sir is a great motivator. Even if a person scored a duck he motivates and ensures that person that he will score big in the next game” he added.
Sudip also recounted how Rahul Dravid gave the entire team a dinner treat when India A were victorious in the second test and drew the series.
“The wicket at Pretoria has been different, during the first test match the wicket was a typical pitch for pacer where the deliveries would reach the neck or face much often. It was difficult for us to match the situation so we were unsuccessful to play well. However the second pitch at Johannesburg helped both pacer and spinners, rather a sporting wicket and we were able to defeat them” Sudip concluded.
The tour has been a great experience for Sudip who feels the experience would come handy for him in the upcoming Ranji Trophy. He claims it to be a ‘milestone series’ and he feels that if he could have scored more runs he would been much more happier.