To begin with Chetnya Nanda was a batsman. Then his coach discovered that Nanda could offer more value as a leg-spinner. VIJAY LOKAPALLY interacts with the promising player.
He would have been a batsman but for a casual stint with leg-spin. At the club ‘nets’, he observed one of his colleagues and remarked, “This is easy.” When challenged, Chetnya Nanda came up with a spell that left an impression on the coach. And he soon made the switch, from batting to bowling.
In the recent Irani Cup in Baroda, Nanda came in for praise from India coach Gary Kirsten and bowling legend Anil Kumble. Not the one to keep his art to himself, Kumble invited Nanda to have a bowl at the end of the match, which ended prematurely on the fourth day. Nanda had finished with an eight-wicket haul, including five for 48 in the second innings.
Nanda has always dreamt of interacting with Kumble, his idol. This opportunity came as a boon at the start of the season. Kumble told him the importance of bowling at a good length. “Come with me,” Kumble took Nanda along and explained the significance of angles, change of pace, even as Kirsten taught left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha how to use the ‘rough’.
Nanda was learning priceless tricks from Kumble like the run-up and the change of ends. “But nothing like exploring different angles,” confessed Nanda, who did not fail to notice that Kirsten played Kumble mainly on the backfoot and Nanda on the front. It was obviously the speed that was the deciding factor in the batsman making the choice and Nanda was able to command respect.
“Unless you change your pace the batsman can come down the pitch to hit you,” says Nanda, who played a key role in Delhi winning the Ranji Trophy last season. From the time he took 23 wickets in his first four under-19 matches, Nanda has maintained a steady progress, just concentrating on a decent length and working very hard at improving his skills.
The Irani Cup experience this time was unforgettable as Nanda snared stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and V. V. S. Laxman. “It was very exciting to get these two great batsmen,” said Nanda, who acknowledged the help from the two Delhi coaches, Vijay Dahiya and Manoj Prabhakar.
“Spin is an art one learns over a period of time. Viru (Virender Sehwag) had told me to be patient. I am just doing that and learning with every match,” said Nanda.
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