Not lucky enough this time: Rishav Das

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: He scored a century and also contributed 512 runs on the board. But Rishav Das, the highest scorer for Assam in Ranji Trophy this season, is not satisfied with his performance. In an interaction with The Sentinel, the right handed batsman also sounded optimistic about the future of the senior team’s batting. Here is the excerpt.

The Sentinel (TS): This time you were the highest run-scorer for Assam in the Ranji Trophy. It should be a satisfying season?

Rishav: You can say so. But honestly speaking, I am not fully satisfied. I was targeting around 700-750 runs. In the initial stage of the season, I couldn’t do well and thus I didn’t reach my target. But the support from the coach and the other senior members was highly appreciable and they always kept faith on me. That boosted my level of confidence.

(TS): You had the opportunity to score three centuries this season but missed two narrowly. Are you upset?

Rishav: Yes. I think luck was not with me this time.

Although I converted one of my innings to a hundred, I failed on other two occasions. I was really unlucky - given out on 99 against Chhattishgarh.

(TS): It was batting again which put Assam in the back foot. Any idea how to overcome the situation?

Rishav: It’s true that we were not able to maintain the same level of performance that our bowlers had done throughout the season. But if you notice you will see that there are some positive things too in our bating. In one game, we had scored 400 plus runs and newcomers like Saahil Jain and Subham Mondal nicely grabbed the opportunities that were offered to them. I feel we need to show little patience and wait for a while. You will see by the next couple of years we will have good depth in our batting. The Assam Cricket Association also had done a good job by providing us sufficient number of competitive matches before the start of the season. I feel a little exposure outside the State can give better results.

(TS): How do you see the future of two newcomers Saahil and Subham?

Rishav: Both are very promising batsmen and also have good technique. What they now need is to just focus on their batting.

(TS): Share your future plans.

Rishav: I still keep my hopes alive to represent India in a white dress. If I want to reach that goal, two things should happen simultaneously - I have to score tons of runs in first-class cricket and my team have to play in the knockout stage of the Ranji Trophy. Hope both will occur by the next couple of years. Every year I chalk out some specific plans for the off season and it is ready this time too. I will now work according to it.

Also Read: Ranji Trophy: Rishav Das hits ton but Tripura take innings lead

Also Watch: Watch | Exceptional Step to counter Human-Elephant Conflict in Digboi