WINNING a title in first year of getting leadership is a “truly special feeling”, says Vidarbha skipper Harsh Dubey who brought home first BCCI whiteball title for the team by thumping Saurashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final in Bengaluru on Sunday night. “Last year rah gaya thaa, iss baar trophy ghar aayi. It was heartbreaking for me last year (in final against Karnataka) as I wason thenon-strikers end and saw it slipping away from our hands.This timein semis,when wewon againstKarnataka,Iwas very happy to be again at the non-striker’s end. “Then in the final (against Saurashtra), I wanted to win. I had lost one Ranji final against Mumbai and I said to myself that I do not want to lose so many finals.Firstwhite-ball trophy for Vidarbha ... it is a big achievement,”Dubeysaidwhile interacting with‘The Hitavada’ on Monday.

 

“I got the leadership for the fist time.T20 (SMAT)did not go ourway thenweworkedout.The first VHT match was an eyeopener.Weunderstood after the match that we had to raise our level.With better planning and better focus, we played the next match and then we lost jut one match againstUP.That firstmatch was most important. “The real feeling cannot be expressed in words. When I started playing cricket, I never expected so much things to happen and that I will attain this position. Truly special feeling,” said a happy but composed Dubey. Dubey had backing of coach Usman Ghani as well as all the teammembers. “Thoughitismy first season as a leader, throughout the tournament all the senior and other players supported me. Never felt any issue or that somebody’s ego has been hurt.Coach playeda great role and I enjoyed his full support.

 

He always backed all my decisions and the best part was that we had great communication. Other players, coach and support staff too deserve the credit for title win. Throughout the tournament ... they help in recovery... thedoctor,the trainer fielding and assistant coach. Their inputs and contribution really make difference,” said Dubey. Dubey also lauded Aman Mokhade who was the biggest positive from the tournament apart from the trophy. “Aman has been the biggest positive apart from the trophy. Hetook responsibilityanddelivered. We had different wickets at Rajkot but he controlled his game in Bengaluru where the wickets were different. He took his time and played superbly. Darshan Nalkande’s performancein the knock-outswasvery crucial.Hecouldnot getopportunities midway in the tournament but then he did very well.

 

Actually everybodycontributed in this win,” said the skipper. Dubey, who entered record books last Ranji season taking a record number of wickets in a season, said he was happy to contain the batters this time. “I always do not think about wickets. If I bowl economical it is going to benefit the team in the end. If I go for wickets and bowl aggressively, Imay end up leakingrunsand thatwouldhelp opponents score more. I don’t consider (lesserwickets)itasany personal loss. “Main thing is that you must improve from your last performance and theresultswillbe in your favour,” Dubey signed off. 

 

 

“Last timewelostitafter comingsoclose.Even in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 we entered semis last year with an all-winrecord and alsoinVijayHazareouronlyloss came in final. “We always had very good white-ball talent ... and were doing well in the last five-six years.But the trophyeludedus. Thisyearwegotanotheropportunity and I am very happy we grabbed the trophy this time. “This time,thoughwelost two matches, theplayerskepton the momentum in a very hectic tournament and succeeded. It was very tough physically,mentally and tactically.

 

Happy for the players they made us all proud,” said coach Usman Ghani. He added that the players raised their hands when needed. “All the boys were good. Whenever they got a chance they performed. In all the matches, somebody raised up his hand taking the responsibility andhelping the teamwin. “Wewereveryconfident right from start of the tournament. We told ourselves that whiteball trophy was out target. In SMAT, we had two bad matches and could not qualify for knock-outs.Butweknewwehad talent and backed ourselves. Our preparation was good and it was VCA’s target to win a white-ball title.

 

“Thoughwe lost toBengal in the opener, we made some changes in our plan and followed the process.We all knew we had lost last year and were determined to go that one step ahead this time. We play united, thisis thequalityofVidarbha team.Weenjoyeachother’ssuccess and stay together in hard times which is very important. Teamislikea familyandwehave created that culture in out team,” Ghani concluded.

 

The way players kept on coming back in the tournament was very heart-warming. Maja aa gaya. A white-ball trophy was missing, required and the boys have brought it. The players did a commendable job. Their effort was fantastic. After losing first game even after scoring 350- plus, the boys have shown character. This bunch makes you very happy. They are a fine unit. They support each other and it is a very good mindset.

 

We always backed the team helping it to follow the thought process and all these things finally get reflected on field. It happened like Ranji Trophy. We had lost final the previous season and next year we got it ... same here. The fire that you reached there (final last year) but not conquered was burning inside the players. To perform consistently in this competitive times is not an easy job to do ... really satisfying. — Prashant Vaidya, Chairman of VCA’s Cricket Administration & Development Committee 

 

 

T he boys played very well, right from the first match. I always encouraged them by sending congratulatory messages after every win. One must not forget the contribution of the selectors.Ihave seen them brainstorming for hours together deliberating on the players to be picked in the team. We have talented pool of players that we have proper replacements for professional player like Dhruv Shorey who missed the match (final) due to an injury. The players trust each other’s ability and that is a great thing. A new player is drafted into the playing XI in the final and all players support him ... it is a fine thing. — Sanjay Badkas, VCA Secretary

 

 

T his is the whole U-14, U-16 batch ... a very young side led by young captain Harsh Dubey. It’sabig achievement. It was a good team work and credit must go to players as well as the coach. Dubey, in his first year of leading the side has done a fine job. Players have done extremely well no doubt but for taking such a young team thus far needs a good support from the coach. The win makes us feel that the boys have attitude of international level. Also, thanks to VCA and vision of the association from 2010 is yielding fruits of the efforts. VCA has used all the funds for good overall development of cricket. Congratulations to association also! White-ball doors have opened now. Earlier, we used to do well in white-ball cricket but never progress to final. When I was in the team we once played the semis and lost to Tamil Nadu. Feel happy to see that now we are doing well in both red and white ball cricket. Fantastic job! — Pritam Gandhe, former Vid skipper 

 

T he way they have played the entire tournament ...so dominating. What I liked the most was the fact that they scored three hundred runs in almost all the games. In any final, target above 300 is a big score however flat the turf may be. That creates pressure on the opponent batters. And then opening spell by Thakur and Bhute was very good. After they got the openers out early, they are always in chasing mode ... saving wickets as well as scoring runs. Both Vidarbha and Saurashtra have many similarities. They play like a pack of wolves. Vidarbha had a better day in that final as they kept their nerves. It is first white-ball trophy and am very happy for the team. Aman’s was a stand-out performance. It was a display of fitness and mental toughness. I think that when a player is physically fit, he automatically becomes mentally fit ... and agile. Taide’s ton also came at the crucial time ... in the final. We very missing Dhruv and he (Taide) played with and extra responsibility. He build that innings very nicely. It was unfortunate that Harsh could not get more wickets. He bowled very well. He has earned a reputation of a wicket-taker in domestic circuit and players just want to play him off saving their wickets. I am absolutely thrilled, super happy for the boys. — Faiz Fazal,Vidarbha’s two-time Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup winning captain 

 

 

I t’s the effort of the players after all. We are all there to help but it is finally the job of players. They are a dedicated bunch of players ... they play well and do well. This is the fruit of all their hard work. They are lucky to have good guidance. Players and the entire support staff including the coach perform as a unit. I am hopeful they will be doing well in Ranji Trophy also. We are very much busy with hosting of the first India-New Zealand T20 but soon we will have our executive meeting and would decide on the figure, which will be a decent one, as incentive from VCA. — Justice (Retd) Vinay Deshpande,VCA President