V. R. V. Singh: Chandigarh aiming to do well in first year itself

V. R. V. Singh, the former India fast bowler, will serve as head coach of the Chandigarh team for the Ranji Trophy.

Former India fast bowler and Chandigarh local V. R. V. Singh is the head coach; he oversaw the selection trials for the senior team held at the Mahajan Cricket Academy in the city on August 21.

V. R. V. Singh, the former India fast bowler, will serve as head coach of the Chandigarh team for the Ranji Trophy.

A product of Chandigarh, Singh represented Punjab at the domestic level before going on to play for India, following in the footsteps of Yuvraj Singh. He will shepherd a team that he says will look to perform really well in the first season itself.

Considering this will be Chandigarh’s first season in Ranji Trophy, will you induct professional players from other regions, like other new teams have done?

That the selectors will decide, but we already have a very good team. We have well-known players like Manan Vohra and Uday Kaul. We’re aiming to do really well in the first year itself.

Coming up the ranks, when did you think you would make the leap to the international stage?

Yuvraj Singh was the biggest motivation for me to play cricket. When he won the under-19 World Cup with the Indian team in 2000, I was motivated to play for India.

You could either play for Punjab or Haryana. I chose Punjab. At the under-14 level, I represented the Chandigarh district, from Punjab.

How equipped in the Sector 16 stadium to host matches?

The facilities are good. The pitches will support good cricket.