Nine matches. Fourteen innings. Tally of 406 runs, including Saturday’s knock of 73 against Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal. Such stats do not look respectable for any regular middle-order batsman; least of all when it’s from a Mumbai No. 5. That too, the captain.
But despite having failed to pile on the big runs – something that’s missing from all of Mumbai’s specialist batsman this season – Aditya Tare isn’t concerned much.
“I think batting-wise I am feeling very confident. I am in a good space as far as my batting is concerned. I have been facing at least 40-50 balls every innings, so getting those starts but not being able to convert is the issue,” Tare said, after helping Mumbai recover to 250 for five on the opening day.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my technique or my batting form. I am in a good space in my mind. For me, that’s what is important. I know that knockouts is the stage where I can step up my game. That’s what I will look to do in the coming games.”
Tare wasted a golden opportunity to convert a well-made fifty on a two-paced wicket that he referred to as “slightly underprepared” with a loose stroke. With a hundred in sight, Tare holed out pacer Mohammed Siraj to his counterpart, S. Badrinath at mid-on.
“It still hurts. I got out here against M.P. for 80 when we were chasing a big target just before stumps. And here I got out just after tea. That’s one area where I personally, even as batting unit, we spoke about the tendency to get out just before and after a break,” he said.
“Unfortunately I couldn’t break that jinx that I have been carrying throughout the season. Happy with the scoreboard at the moment; hopefully we can push it tomorrow.”
Tare wasn’t the only one to gift his wicket to an impressive Hyderabad bowling attack. Suryakumar Yadav too had slashed outside off to throw his wicket early in the morning.
Still, Tare preferred to highlight the rescue act staged by himself, Siddhesh Lad – the centurion who stole the limelight yet again and ever-reliable Abhishek Nayar.
"I think the way we fought back – incredible innings by Lad and the way Abhishek finished as well," Tare said. "Obviously I am proud of the way Lad and I stitched that 100-run partnership.
"At 30 for four, it could have been terrible, we needed someone to stand and I always believe knockouts is the stage where big players, big teams step up their game. I am glad three of us – a bit more experienced players – put their hand up and bailed the team out. I think still a long way to go in the game."
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