With Bangladesh league outing under his belt, Ashok Menaria ready for domestic challenge

It is a new season, a fresh team and holding the reins of Team Rajasthan is dashing left-hand batsman Ashok Menaria. While Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) seems to be perennially doomed, the new captain says the players will fight the odds as they open the domestic season 2018-19 with a game against Jharkhand in Vijay Hazare Trophy. 

Menaria, who scored a copious amount of runs in Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL), in a free-reeling conversation with DNA speaks about the team’s prospects, his equation with vice-captain and his own form. Excerpts:

HOW GOOD IS THE YOUNG SIDE

It’s a young side that has a good mix of talent. And if we talk about the training front, I don’t think we are short on that as everyone has been involved in some tournament or the other on the individual front, like I was busy playing in Bangladesh, many players were occupied with IPL and others had club tournaments going. Add to it working as a team during three challenger Trophy matches and five practice games before heading to Chennai.

A MATURE PLAYER NOW

See the matter of fact is that with time everyone matures. Yes the results when I captained the side during Ranji season 2015-16 weren’t good enough, but I have grown as player since then. I am one of the seniors in the team now and it is now that I feel the pressure of leading by example. This I feel is a sign of growing more responsible and this will add to the added task of captaincy.  

CHEMISTRY WITH VICE-CAPTAIN

Even the brilliant fast bowlers, generally, are not good leaders as they lack tactical smartness to guide the team. Deepak Chahar, who is an all-rounder, is an exception to this and given that he’s my deputy this time, he will be a great help. He also has IPL and international experience, and that will surely come in handy. We have been friends for last 10 years and we know each other inside out.  

ON POOR CONVERSION RATE

In past 2-3 years I haven’t played many one-dayers for Rajasthan. In fact, never in my life I have been exposed much to the 50-over game as when I played under-19 it was always the 4-day game we used to have. So talking about getting to a flyer start and then failing to convert 50s and 70s into a hundred doesn’t apply here. My performance in DPL is the best example of what I can achieve in a shorter format. I played 15 games here and scored at an average of 60.18.

NOT NEW TO CAPTAINCY

I have captained India Under-19 team which toured Australia in 2009 in the one-dayers and led the U-19 World Cup team in New Zealand in 2010. I am really hopeful of a good Vijay Hazare outing.

FIRST MATCH TODAY

Team Rajasthan will open its Vijay Hazare campaign against Jharkhand on September 20 in Chennai. The team is placed in Group C that overall includes 10 teams. Batsman Ashok Menaria is the captain of the side and fast bowler Deepak Chahar is the the vice-captain.  This year, the state will miss the services of its seasoned fast bowler Pankaj Singh as he is representing Puducherry.