Omkar Gurav ready for Mumbai

Mumbai’s 39th Ranji Trophy triumph had brought with it a bitter piece of news. Vinayak Samant, the team’s wicketkeeper for eight seasons, announced he would never adorn the Lion’s Crest again. The decision did leave many on the city’s cricketing circuit bewildered as Samant, even at 37, could beat any youngster in a 100-metre dash. The ‘ageless warrior’ had also rescued the side from many a batting collapse.

But Samant refused to budge. “I want to make way for youngsters,” he had said then. “Omkar Gurav and Sufiyan Shaikh are talented and I don’t want to be a hindrance to them.”

On Thursday, Mumbai’s selectors picked Gurav ahead of Shaikh for the Irani Trophy tie against Rest of India from October 1-5. “I’m happy for Omkar. Even Sufiyan is good and he, too, will get his chances,” Samant told DNA on Friday. For the record, Samant is yet to find a team for the upcoming season.

According to the veteran, Gurav is a “pure” wicketkeeper. “He is blessed with a safe pair of hands,” Samant said, before adding a word of caution, “Omkar will have to work on his batting, though.”
Gurav himself is aware of the challenges that await him. “Playing for Mumbai is not easy. You have to perform day in and day out,” he said. “I am working hard on my batting too.”

Incidentally, Gurav’s two first class appearances — Mohammad Nissar Trophy tie against Karachi Urban and Irani Trophy clash — came in 2007 when Samant was out injured. In addition, Gurav has played for India U-19 and toured New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka.

The 22-year-old is so highly rated that a host of former players-turned coaches say he is one for the future. While Amre labels him a “specialist wicketkeeper”, Lalchand Rajput, Gurav’s coach during his U-19 days, says he is in the ‘Sharad Hazare mould’.

“He is a delight to watch. He is one of the most technically perfect ‘keepers I have seen. I still remember the way he kept wickets on those bouncy tracks in England and New Zealand,” Rajput added.
For now, it’s Jaipur calling for Gurav.