No team from Gujarat in IPL, but Gujju cricketers shone brightly
HARESH PANDYA
Though Nardndra Modi's vibrant state fields three teams (Gujarat, Bardoa and Saurashtra) in the Ranji Trophy, none of them figured in the IPL. But many Gujju cricketers used it as as a platform to parade their brilliant talents.
Rajasthan Royals, who were crowned champions, had as many as six Gujarati players in their ranks. Not just Baroda's Yusuf Pathan, the hero of the final, but Siddharth Trivedi, Munaf Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Niraj Patel also shone brightly and contributed to their team's ultimate triumph.
Gujarat's medium-pacer Trivedi was judiciously used by his captain Shane Warne and he responded with 13 wickets at 30.69. The gangling Trivedi often dealt crushing blows at vital junctures. The IPL has revived Trivedi's sinking career as he has been selected in the Indian team for the Emerging Players' Tournament to be played in Australia in July.
Speedster Munaf Patel, a moody but pucca Gujarati who plays for Mumbai, was a good complement to Trivedi. Munaf, who narrowly missed the bus for the tri-series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan, took 14 wickets at 30.00 with 3 for 17 against Delhi Daredevils being his best figures.
Saurashtra's precocious allrounder Jadeja often chipped in with timely little innings batting down the order, scoring 135 runs at 19.29 with a strike rate of 131.07. He won rich encomia form even Warne for his undoubted genius. Rajasthan Royals' bowling was so good that Warne didn't require Jadeja's golden arm. Jadeja will also represent India in the Emerging Players' Tournament.
Left-handed Niraj Patel, the mainstay of Gujarat's batting, played only a handful of matches. But he essayed two crucial innings under trying circumstances and impressed one and all. His 40 not out in a nail-biting finish showed the exit door to Mumbai Indians and sealed his team's place in the semifinals. He had earlier top-scored with 57 in Rajasthan Royals' last league match, which they lost to Kings XI Punjab.
Jaydev Shah may not have played a single match for Rajasthan Royals, but he has reasons to smile as the national selectors have appointed him captain of an Indian team for the next month's three one-dayers against Israel in Israel.
Parthiv Patel, the Gujarat captain and wicketkeeper who tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart Avni Zaveri in February, has suddenly emerged as an aggressive batsman at the top of the order. With 302 runs at 27.45, including two fifties, and a strike rate of 101.67, he was one of the star performers for Chennai Super Kings.
It was heartening to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has taken Parthiv's place in the Indian team, encourage the southpaw in every possible way. Parthiv has now been appointed captain of the Indian side for Emerging Players' Tournament down under.
Although overshadowed by his brother, Irfan Pathan did quite well for Kings XI Punjab, bagging 15 wickets at 23.33 and scoring 131 runs at 21.83.
While the highly-rated Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara didn't get to play a single match for Kolkata Knight Riders, Baroda's Pinal Shah failed to make the most of his opportunities as he managed only 34 runs at 8.5 in four innings for Mumbai Indians.
Of all the Gujarati players in the IPL, only Pinal was a big let-down. But it isn't the end of the world for both Pujara and Pinal. While Pujara has been picked for the Israel-bound squad, Pinal will go to Australia under Parthiv.
Enthused and encouraged by Gujju cricketers' impressive show, a couple of big business houses from Ahmedbad have announced to filed a Vibrant Gujarat team in the next edition of the IPL.