Aggression key in Delhi’s march to Ranji Trophy final: Manoj Prabhakar

Delhi entered the final of the Ranji Trophy for the first time since 2007 and former India bowler Manoj Prabhakar has said aggression has been the major driving force for the team led by Rishabh Pant.

It helps to have pace bowlers mentoring the team. Delhi found that out on Tuesday as Navdeep Saini and left-arm paceman Kulwant Khejroliya (both picking a four-wicket haul) bowled Delhi to a remarkable victory against Bengal inside three days. The seven-time champions won by an innings and 26 runs to enter the Ranji Trophy final for the 14th time.

Gautam Gambhir’s century in the Ranji Trophy semi-final was a key factor in the team’s march to the final along with Navdeep Saini’s spell. (PTI)

Delhi had lost track after centuries by openers Kunal Chandela and Gautam Gambhir and looked like taking only a small lead. However, young batsman Himmat Singh made 60, and together with the tail, took the team’s lead to 112.

Then Navdeep and Kulwant ran through the Bengal line-up, dismissing them for just 86.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Delhi bowling coach and ex-India pacer Manoj Prabhakar said, “The main thing is aggression. That is what we decided on. We knew there were no big names in the Bengal line-up. When you have pace and bounce on the wicket, just bang it in. I told them, ‘When Shami can do it, why can’t you? He is 30, you are 22’.

Delhi selector Atul Wassan, also a former India paceman, told Hindustan Times, “There is a tact to bowl in domestic cricket. We worked on it. Like you have to stick to the length and come close to the wickets.”

It was coming of age for Navdeep, who bagged the man of the match award for his seven-wicket haul. The paceman’s inclusion back in 2013-14 at the behest of then Delhi skipper Gautam Gambhir without any local cricket behind him had stirred controversy. Till then, he had been playing tennis ball cricket on daily pittance. However, his pace and movement off the pitch turned him into Delhi’s key bowler.

“I owe this life and my success to Gautam Gambhir. I was a nobody and Gautam bhaiyaa did everything for me,” Saini, who hails from Karnal, told PTI.

The pacer was supposed to go to South Africa with India Test team as a net bowler, but Ankit Rajpoot of UP is being sent instead. “I was happy that I would go to South Africa but I called up Gautam bhaiyya. He said Delhi needs you now for the semi-final and if you do well, you will be automatically in that Indian dressing room. I didn’t think twice.”