Nothing has really changed — SS Das

NAGPUR, NOVEMBER 25: The person manning the scoreboard was sweating throughout the day, with the Indian strokeplayers barely giving him a ...

NAGPUR, NOVEMBER 25: The person manning the scoreboard was sweating throughout the day, with the Indian strokeplayers barely giving him a chance to relax. But, when the time came, he put the number plates down for a few minutes and raised his arms cheering India’s new find for the opening slot — Shiv Sunder Das. The Orissa lad, who reached his maiden Test hundred in his third Test, says life has not changed for him after all the adulation. "Nothing has really changed in my life since I made it to the Test team," an elated Das said. "It was a great feeling to score the first hundred."

Asked to comment on the umpiring decision, he said, "It is all part of the game. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t."

Regarding the behaviour of the wicket, he said, "The bounce was indifferent and initially I had to watch the new ball. But slowly I settled down. It’s just the beginning of my career and I am looking forward to other games,” he said when queried about his increasing confidence. "I was nervous when I made my debut but ‘am feeling more confident now."

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Referring to his stint with the Bangalore-based National Cricket Academy and the Adelaide-based Australian Cricket Academy, Das said, "I worked hard on my fitness in the NCA, while ACA put me on the batting drills."

Das, who is the second player from Orissa to don the National cap, said that Debashis Mohanty’s entry into the Test team boosted the players’ confidence back home in in his state. "Before Mohanty’s inclusion in the team, we were not confident enough but the scene has changed for the better now," he added.