Asia Cup to Asia Cup has been quite a journey for Ashok Dinda. The Bengal pacer, who last played for India during the 2010 edition in Sri Lanka says he has improved since then to merit a place in the team once more.
"I have worked on strength and accuracy, practiced bowling at a single stump and a spot," Dinda has often said this season.
Fifty nine wickets in the current first class season are proof that the practice has paid dividends. An added confidence booster came in the form of bowling figures of 5/54 against MP in a Vijay Hazare knockout match for Bengal. His effort helped Bengal win by 15 runs.
There is no dearth of action when Dinda bowls. On a sluggish track, however, his stock delivery that zips through from back of a length wasn't going to be effective.
Even though he got a couple of wickets through it when the batsmen mistimed their thwacks, he leaked runs.
But Sourav Ganguly was there to rein him in.
"Daadi (Ganguly) backs me a lot," said Dinda.
{{/usCountry}}"Daadi (Ganguly) backs me a lot," said Dinda.
{{/usCountry}}It was evident when the MP middle order batsmen smashed him for two fours square of the wicket. An animated Ganguly ran up to him to give him a piece of his mind. Soon afterwards, Dinda was able to dismiss the batsman.
"If India won't need me in the eleven, I will accept it," he said, talking about the problem that befell statemate Manoj Tiwary in Australia.
Brief scores: Bengal 230 all out (Majumdar 55, Saha 53) beat Madhya Pradesh 215 (A Singh 53, Dinda 5/54)