Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: Pacer Ranjit Mali, the recipient of ACA's best cricketer award for the season 2019-20, feels that the award will inspire him to work hard and improve his performance better. In a conversation with The Sentinel Ranjit, representing both Indian Railways and Assam in the Ranji Trophy, also shared his plan for the coming season. Here is the excerpt.
The Sentinel (TS): You recently received ACA's best cricketer of the year award for 2019-20 season. Your reaction.
Ranjit: It's a good feeling. The award would inspire me to spend more time in the field and do better for the team.
(TS): How would you assess your last season's performance?
Ranjit: Every year I start the season with a specific target. Although I have not achieved my target last season, it's not bad also. I was consistent throughout the season with the ball.
(TS): What was your target?
Ranjit: Actually I planned to pick up 50 plus wickets in the season. I tried my best but was able to collect 39 wickets only. However the performance was better than the previous season where I captured 32 wickets.
(TS): What about the planning for next season which is expected to begin in January.
Ranjit: Look, if I want to catch the eyes of the national selectors I need to collect wickets as much as possible. So this year too my first target is to collect minimum 50 plus wickets and that too as early as possible.
(TS): Any negative impact of recent lockdown on your fitness !
Ranjit: No. During the Lockdown I wasn't able to bowl in the net but I work hard to keep my fitness intact. So I hope there would be no problem for me to start the new season with the same fitness level like the previous seasons.
(TS): BCCI is planning to start the domestic season in January and perhaps a lot of restrictions would be there…..
Ranjit: Actually till date the picture is not clear how and when the season will begin. We have just learnt that this time domestic cricket would be restricted to three or four venues. If it happens then I feel it would be a little bit challenging for the cricketers in the early stage as they will need to adjust to local conditions quickly. However a cricketer should always be ready to face any condition and me too.
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