The 2015-16 season will go down in Gujarat’s cricket history as one to remember. The season was not just about winning, but about making an impact through individual performances and sometimes as a team.
Not Just in IPL
While all the focus will no doubt be on the performance of the debutant Gujarat Lions side in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016, the impact of the sport in the state is much deeper.
This past season has particularly been impactful in all formats for the state. Perhaps if Justice Lodha has a read of this, he might just be tempted to change his recommendation of having just one vote per state.
Top Season
Consider this, Gujarat won the one-day Vijay Hazare Trophy, Baroda lost in the final of the domestic Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 trophy and Saurashtra finished second best to Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy title round.
Then to top it off the Gujarat Lions’ IPL side almost made it to the final in their first-ever appearance.
Individual Rewards
The season’s domestic performances also ensured that some of the key performers from the state got rewarded with Indian call-ups.
To start off, Jasprit Bumrah was inducted into the Twenty20 squad following his match-winning performances for Gujarat in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Since his January debut, the young pacer has been a regular feature in the Indian team, having picked up 11 wickets in his 4 ODIs and 21 in his 17 T20s.
Baroda all-rounder Hardik Pandya too got an India call-up for the Twenty20 leg of the season. Also having made his debut in January against Australia, Pandya’s collected 78 runs and 15 wickets in his 16 international appearances.
Veterans Still Around
While the youngsters are making an impact in their debut season, the older crop like Baroda strongman Yusuf Pathan too are not allowing their names to slip away from the spotlight too easy. The IPL saw Pathan put in regular match-winning performances for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) while some others like Deepak Hooda also continue to make waves in the domestic format.
A veteran Gujarat player, Parthiv Patel led his side to the title in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and was called up to Bangladesh as well, when MS Dhoni looked like he had picked up an injury during the Asia Cup. Baroda’s Irfan Pathan too was captained his side to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Long-term Bet
India’s specialist Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara too made a triumphant return to the playing XI in the longest format. He batted resolutely in Sri Lanka and against South Africa, showing everyone what he was capable of.
Pujara’s Saurashtra teammate Jaydev Unadkat made a telling impact in Ranji Trophy as he led his side to the final. Unadkat in many ways is considered to be the most improved fast bowler in India, who is apparently finally ready for the big league. He was rewarded with a place in the India squad that is currently touring Zimbabwe.
Krunal’s The Man
The surprise of the season however was Krunal Pandya, elder brother of Hardik.
A left-hand spinning all-rounder, Pandya seemed to be one of the many currently plying their trade in India but he made headlines after the IPL auction in February when he was bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 2 crores. Pandya, at this point, had not played for almost a year, but still Mumbai Indians bid for him, leaving everyone surprised.
Thought when he finally made his appearance in Mumbai’s blue jersey, Krunal justified the price tag. He won the faith of coach Ricky Ponting- tonked the ball as a number three, bowled a few restrictive overs and made quite an impact. His daredevilry with the bat put paid to Delhi Daredevils this season.
(Also Read: Kohli and de Villier’s Wicket Was My IPL Highlight: Krunal Pandya)
In Decent State
There are quite a few other performers who are waiting to break onto the big stage from Gujarat. With the state having three sides in the domestic cricket and one in IPL, there is an opportunity for many to make an impact. Overall, it is the sunshine state of cricket in India right now.
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