The Mumbai dressing room warmed up for the big party on Friday with a couple of mini-celebrations at the end of Day Four. But while the Hyderabadis in the stands shouted hoarse when non-resident Andhriite Rohit Sharma completed his second century of the match,it was wicketkeeper-opener Vinayak Samants century that triggered a wave of excitement among the Mumbai players. In his 13-year-old first-class career,in which he has played 84 games,Samant had never reached three-figures before this Ranji final. But it wasnt just the celebration of this long-awaited milestone that saw Sachin Tendulkar walk out to the dressing-room balcony,with a big smile on his face,to lend a hand to the collective applause. The animation in the dressing room was because of the character Samant has been over the years. Among the most popular members of the side,the motor-mouth keeper is the life of the Mumbai team. Street-smart and cheeky,with a limited array of shots,he is known as much for his wit as he is for his grit. Though opposition batsmen might need ear-plugs when Samant is behind the stumps,most of the time the close-in fielders are in splits because of his one-liners. Samant has played several crucial knocks and says he has often stood in front of the mirror and visualised himself holding the bat in air,acknowledging the applause after a century. It was a good feeling,a feeling that Ive always dreamt about. When I reached the three-figure mark,there was a loud applause from the crowd,such things have never happened to me, says Samant,whos inning of 113 came from 239 balls with 17 fours. A lower-order batsman for most of his career,the Mumbai team management asked him to open this season to get the balance right. I never got a chance to open the innings. With it,I got the opportunity to bat for long, he says. Samants career has been full of struggles. In the early 90s,with no slots up for grabs,he moved to Assam. I played only one match for Mumbai under-19. Those days it was very tough to make it to the Ranji team. When I got a chance to play for Assam,I was little bit hesitant but my friends told me that at least Id play for a Ranji side. He spent four years there before moving back to Mumbai after Sameer Dighe retired. At 36,Samants stock wont really rise after his maiden century in the Ranji final. But for him,itll be moment to cherish forever.
