Ashutosh Aman would be leading the Bihar side once again when the team begins it’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign against Arunachal Pradesh on 11th January in Chennai. He is upbeat about the task at hand since a ‘balanced’ team has been selected for the tournament. There were many hurdles before the selection, but now as the team has been selected, Aman hopes that they could replicate their 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign where they topped the Plate group to qualify for the Quarter Finals, in their very first attempt as a reinstated team.
Talking about his plans, the skipper said, “For Mushtaq Ali, we have got a balanced team, it is a good mixture of youngsters and seniors. The main aim is to top the group and qualify for the quarter-finals...once we are there, we will try and give our best and reach as far in the tournament as possible.”
This is also the first time that teams have been divided into a Plate group for Syed Mushtaq Ali. Bihar, which has won a solitary match out of the 12 that they have played so far in the history of the tournament, would look to better their record. But there are many hurdles before they could think of getting to the top of the group. And Aman acknowledges them too.
“Our main competition is Chandigarh. They got the better of us in the Ranji Trophy last year, on the basis of their first-innings lead. Apart from them, Meghalaya is strong and so is Nagaland. Stuart Binny would be plying his trade for Nagaland this year...but that doesn’t mean we are any weaker,” Aman boasted.
The team indeed has a good mix of youth and experience and Aman believes that youngsters like Sakib-Ul-Gani who scored a triple century in the CK Nayudu U-23 domestic championship, along with Akash Raj could come in handy.
Aman rose to fame from Ranji Trophy, where during the 2018-19 season, he broke Bishan Sing Bedi’s 44-year-old record for most wickets in a Ranji season. He got 68 wickets in eight games, four more than Bedi’s 64 wickets. The only century in his career is courtesy the Ranji Trophy as well. If there is love personified between a tournament and player, Aman can give competition to anyone when it comes to his love for the premium First Class Tournament of India.
Since rumors are ripe about the four-day tournament being scrapped this season, Aman feels a bit hard done as a player. But as a cricket appreciator, he is happy that in this time of covid-19, BCCI is still hosting Syed Mushtaq Ali for the domestic players with a possibility to host the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well.
“Ranji Trophy should be played. But it is unfortunate that due to Coronavirus it might be scrapped. I believe It is the original tournament, the real first-class cricket, so I would hope that we have Ranji Trophy this year..but we can only hope,” Aman said with a face that yearned for an opportunity to play First-Class cricket. It’s been almost a year since he last played competitive cricket.
The all-round potential of this Air Force man has still not been fully utilized in the limited-overs and Mushtaq Ali is the right time for him to unleash the power with the bat. Emphasizing that he considers himself as an all-rounder in the team, Aman said, “I bat at number six and seven and try to contribute with the bat as and when required.” “For the upcoming tournament, I am practicing my shots which might be crucial at the fag end of the innings,” he added.
There is one more thing that is approaching its fag end and that is Aman’s playing age. Already at 34 and touching 35, the 2018-19 Ceat Domestic Cricketer of the year awardee doesn’t have much time on his hand to get to the ultimate dream of wearing the Navy Blue Indian cap. But that doesn’t make him one bit distraught, he is rather motivated to keep going.
The boy from Gaya, Bihar has grinded it through studies, Indian Air Force and Services team till joining the Bihar cricket team and throughout this journey, he has kept his belief in two things- his love and passion for Cricket and his process.
It wouldn't be wrong to say that if there is anyone that could dare to fulfill the ultimate dream at his age and with the bare minimum resources that he has at the offer, it is Sergeant Ashutosh Aman. After all, he has achieved greater things by believing in the process and by not giving up on his dreams in the face of all adversities.
*This story is the third and last part of a three-part interview of Bihar cricket captain Ashutosh Aman. The other two parts can be read here:
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