Delhi gears up

WITH Ranji about to begin players all over the country are at nets, the boys are preparing for the coming season. In summer and then monsoon, cricket takes a short break and now, even as maalis struggle to get wickets - soggy from the rains - into shape the players are on the field.

For any cricketer, be it Sachin or someone less celebrated, the early part of the season is exceedingly tricky. Every new season brings anxiety, about the unexpected, and hope, about runs to be made and wickets to be taken. Ranji, everyone realises, is a stepping stone, the first real step on the ladder that leads to success and fame. In India all kids dream about cricket and slog hard to achieve their ambition.

But cricket's ladder, Ranji onwards, is treacherously shaky, more so in Delhi where it seems several unseen hands are constantly shaking it to ensure the deserving guys fall off. As talent is aplenty selection is difficult, and the process is complicated because every kid playing in every nearby park is solidly connected. Therefore there is high pressure and intense sifarish; every known trick in the game comes into play.

However, a month before Ranji, putting everything behind them, Delhi is doing serious training. Bishan Bedi (Delhi's captain, later coach of Punjab and India) is the boss, he is like a strict, no-nonsense General who will not tolerate rubbish. With Paaji there is nothing less than total control, he makes the boys slog, shouts 20 different orders simultaneously to the 20 players present. Nobody has a moment to relax, no chance to take things easy.

The emphasis is clearly on fitness, hours of conditioning precede any hit in the net. But this isn't mindless mehnat of the past (which Vengsarkar felt was good for wrestling, not cricket) but a carefully crafted scientific programme to enhance cricket fitness. Bowlers, for instance, bowl long spells and then get short breaks to slowly jog round the field to unwind and loosen up. Two batsmen bat together to improve running between wickets, and once out of the net also run along the boundary. They do this with pads on and bats held above their heads, like jawans on the parade ground who need to be disciplined by the subedar major.

The punishing grind causes pain, as a result some players are crying loudly and shedding copious tears. But Bishan defends his methods: "The blokes are enjoying it. They understand that this tough routine helps performance. Anyone who can't take this won't succeed. Cricket is not just about playing skills but fitness, speed, strength and athleticism."

Which is quite correct and the players realise this. Says Vijay Dahiya, the captain, sweat dripping from his face after a gruelling session: "This is just the right preparation. Last year we lost out because we never had enough runs on the board. But we have a young side and people will see the difference this year."

Much of these hopes rest on Dahiya himself, a modest, sensible senior pro who will have to show the way by setting an example. Dahiya anyway has a personal score to settle with the national selectors and to achieve this has worked very hard the last few months. He is in top shape and his batting and keeping have never been better. Supporting Dahiya will be Sehwag, provided he is around and Mithun Minhas, a talented player who has inexplicably missed out till now. Minhas' potential is not in doubt, but the problem is more about attitude and application.

The younger brigade is led by Akash Chopra, a composed opener, recently back from a stint as a professional in Amsterdam where he played for Gandhi Club, a team run by Indians. Holland has 50-over weekend games all of which are played on jute and synthetic mats but the league is competitive and the money is not bad.

Akash is a hungry player who scores big and in four seasons of first class cricket has impressed with his smooth technique and determination. Madan Lal rates him high, thinks a few major knocks could push him into the frontline. Akash, a bit like Shiv Sundar Das, is a tight player, troubled occasionally by the demands to adjust to the limited overs game.

Another opener to watch is lefthander Gautam Gambhir who has been through the NCA. Gautam is the new breed of tough, physically fit Delhi cricketers. Strikes the ball fluently off the front foot but he must convert good starts into bigger scores.

Delhi's bowling is spearheaded by Nehra, presently troubled by an aggravated groin which requires nothing more than rest. His ankle is fine though it needs ice treatment after each day's play but the problem is Nehra does not want to let go of the ball in a match. Fortunately for him, some teams in his zone do not require anybody to bowl for long.

In tougher games the spinners come into play, Rahul Sanghvi is the main bowler but Nikhil Chopra will be looking to improve upon his forgettable performance last year. He made no impact with bat or ball and if this slump continues he will be under pressure to keep his place.

One person who could push hard for the bowling slot is Abhishek Sharma, a young leg spinner. Though only 16, he turns a long way and has admirable control. Bishan thinks him to be very talented, and points out that in the north there is no other leg spinner around. Delhi, not long ago, was one of India's top teams but inconsistent performances have lately reduced it to a lower status than that of Punjab. Strangely, others like Bombay, Bengal and Hyderabad have suffered a similar fate and the balance of power in their zones has also shifted to other teams.

Bishan Bedi however is determined to arrest the slide. "Just wait," he tells me, "it will be a new Delhi team this year, everyone will be surprised by what we do." And to ensure that this happens he shouts another set of instructions.

Akash Chopra is despatched for some more training, Nehra told to stretch, Gambhir made to do abdomen crunches, Dahiya asked to supervise slip catching, the left arm spinner warned about overstepping in the delivery stride... If the boys work half as hard as Bishan, Delhi will certainly make it!