Team India berth is not Yo Mahesh’s target now

An overcast sky in Ahmedabad on the eve of the one-dayer between India A and South Africa A disappoints Yo Mahesh.

An overcast sky in Ahmedabad on the eve of the one-dayer between India A and South Africa A disappoints Yo Mahesh. After the four-day game between the teams was washed out at Dharamsala, rain threat once again loomed over the players. “We are not even able to practice. It’s been some time that I have bowled. Just dying to get back to bowling,” says the lanky pacer from Tamil Nadu.

After an impressive show during the twin-tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya where the 19-year-old picked up 15 wickets from eight games, he didn’t play the first four-day game against South Africa A

at the Kotla. In the next game, he only bowled a few overs, and then the match washed out. “Rains spoilt the game. Hopefully, we have a match this time,” he says.

The right-arm medium pacer, who attained a maximum speed of 140 kmph, has grown from strength to strength to become one of the bright prospects of Indian cricket. A good show at the domestic junior circuit was followed by a scintillating performance at the under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006 where his 12 wickets from five games helped India reach the final.

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“The World Cup was special. During the tour coach Venkatesh Prasad taught me to deliver the slow leg-cutter. That is an effective weapon in my arsenal now. But I love to hit the deck. Bouncer is still my best bet,” says the bowler, who also has to his credit a hat-trick against England’s A team last year.

However, breaking into Team India won’t be easy for him with the pace attack packed for the moment and many more waiting in the wings. “I am not thinking of that now. I am looking forward to the Ranji season ahead. I really like the competition with so many fast bowlers around. It pushes me harder,” says Mahesh.

The pacer, with a 6.2 frame, picked up some nuances of bowling during his trip to Australia two months ago on a Border-Gavaskar scholarship. There he had a chance to interact with Aussie great Troy Cooley and current coach Tim Nielsen. “It was more of a fielding and fitness training. But they did have a look at my bowling. Troy sir pointed out that I am jumping out of the pitch during delivery. He asked me bring a subtle change and jump in so that my momentum is towards the batsman. I haven’t had a chance to work on it yet. Will certainly practice it later,” says the bowler, who has taken 37 first-class wickets from 13 matches.

The bowler, who repeatedly watches videos of Kapil Dev, Brett Lee and Shane Bond, also credits MRF’s chief coach TA Sekar for his effectiveness. “I have been going there for three years now. My hand was coming from top while releasing the ball. Sekar sir asked me to bring my hand a little down while releasing it so that I can generate more pace,” he says.