Fit and refreshed Mithun gets back on track

Skipper Vinay Kumar felt that Mithun was bowling the way he did when he made his Ranji debut in 2009-10 and subsequently forced his way into the Indian side.

Mithun credited his coaches’ backing for the transformation and sounded optimistic about his chances of making a comeback into the Indian team.

Following two lacklustre seasons, which also coincided with Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy downturn, A. Mithun appears to be well and truly back. The 28-year-old paceman claimed his second five-wicket haul of the campaign as he sliced open a dodged Delhi defence on the final morning to secure Karnataka the crucial first-innings lead .

“Last year things didn’t go well for me and I was really upset about that,” Mithun said here on Sunday. “So coming into this season, I was really prepared. I worked on my bowling action, like how I run into the wicket and my wrist position.”

“S. Aravind has helped me lot and I spoke to Sanath Kumar [former Karnataka cricketer and current Andhra coach] during Thimmappaiah tournament. I started working on my body too. I started doing yoga and it’s helping me a lot.”

Fit Mithun raring to go

Fitness in particular has been a bane for Mithun. In each of the last two seasons he had played just five of the eight matches for Karnataka and there were a few unkind lines circulating too. That he chose to answer them on a largely docile wicket in Alur which needed him to bend his back considerably does indicate the strides he has made.

“On these wickets, I need to push myself,” Mithun said. “I just went and bowled my heart out and I got the results. If I go thinking that I won’t get wickets and that it won’t make a difference, then there’s no point. I have been bowling better this year and I have increased my pace too. I am not getting tired at all and I am recovering well.”

Skipper Vinay Kumar felt that Mithun was bowling the way he did when he made his Ranji debut in 2009-10 and subsequently forced his way into the Indian side.

Mithun hopeful of India comeback

“He is making the batsmen play more,” Vinay opined. “It is important for an in-swing bowler to do that. Even when the ball straightens there are chances of him getting wickets. He is more consistent and it is good for the team.”

Mithun credited his coaches’ backing for the transformation and sounded optimistic about his chances of making a comeback into the Indian team.

“We have new coaches and they gave me the confidence to go out and express myself,” he said. "They support me really well. If I have a few more good games, I am confident that I can make it back to the Indian team.”