Local League: Grand Slam CC mentor Sharath says match not over yet

“I have played this game long enough to realise that the result of a game is far from certain when a full day’s play is remaining. That’s why I didn’t celebrate when my team took the lead and that’s what I told my players in the dressing room as well,” said the former Tamil Nadu Ranji player. 

Asked if he was worried about his team conceding the crucial first innings lead, Sharath said he had immense faith in his team’s lower order. “Yo Mahesh is the man for such an occasion and he had already scored two hundred for TN in a similar situation. The other batsmen did well by hanging out there and refrained from playing any rash strokes. What today’s performance will do is it will give the boys the belief to fight back from any situation, however grave it is,” added Sharath. 

Sharath praised the bowling effort of the Globe Trotters fast bowlers, who were a bowler short when Chetan Sakariya was injured early in the morning session. “I thought both Sunil Sam and Basil Thampi bowled fantastically well. Especially, Thampi who bowled with genuine pace. I have high regard for fast bowlers who operate with the same precision and venom in their last spell as they do in the first spell. And Thampi showed that he is capable of doing that and if he is able to do it consistently, I can see him playing for India soon,” remarked Sharath. 

Meanwhile, Grand Slam wicketkeeper N Jagadeesan, who narrowly missed out on a hundred, said he was beside himself with joy upon seeing his team take lead under dramatic circumstances. “I’m not upset at missing my century. What matters to me is that my team has taken the lead and we are proud of the way the lower order batted,” said the 22-year-old, who scored 94. Jagadeesan blamed his dismissal on a lapse in concentration. “Usually when part-time bowlers roll their arm, batsmen are lulled into complacency and that’s what happened to me. I was trying to take a single but my bat took a leading edge,” rued Jagadeesan. 

CSK’s Jagadeesan lavished praise on the head coach Stephen Fleming and the other senior members of the team. “It’s amazing to see how grounded Fleming is and he treats both the senior and the junior players the same way. Even the foreign recruits like Shane Watson and Dwayne Bravo are happy to offer tips to the youngsters and the whole squad is brimming with confidence,” he mentioned.