Kumar Kushagra (PTI Photo)
One boy whom we have been with for 2-3 years, if he is getting a chance for India, the whole team gets a very good feeling,” Ratan told STOI from Pune, ahead of the second-round match.
Someone told the team, ‘Sir, see, he has got selected. We make players play, according to the situation. It depends on whose skills are needed in that particular match,” said Ratan, emphasizing that selection would be dictated by conditions and team requirements. “The boys just need to deliver, then definitely we will play very good cricket,” he said.
Kolkata: Kumar Kushagra’s maiden India call-up has given Jharkhand’s young Ranji Trophy squad another reason to believe, with coach Ratan Kumar hoping the wicketkeeper-batter’s rise to the national side will inspire his teammates to follow suit as they prepare for a challenging away clash against Maharashtra in Pune. Ratan believes his achievement can lift the team’s morale While Jharkhand will miss the youngster’s services. “As a coach, I am feeling top of the world. The coach recalled how the news reached the squad after the team arrived in Pune. “When we reached here, the boys got the news. At dinner, everyone was talking about it. The batting unit delivered a strong performance in Jharkhand’s opener, with young opener Shikhar Mohan, captain Virat Singh and Aditya Singh scoring centuries. Utkarsh Singh claimed five wickets in the match, while left-arm spinner Manishi and off-spinning all-rounder Md Kounain Quraishi also made useful contributions. “Whoever suits the team’s needs best will be in the eleven. Ratan, meanwhile, was encouraged by Jharkhand’s all-round showing in the opening game and believes there is scope to build on that performance.
Kushagra had visited Jamshedpur a few days earlier, when Ratan met him at the hotel, but there had been no discussion about a possible India selection. Kushagra, initially drafted into the India A squad as Rishabh Pant’s replacement, earned his maiden senior India selection on Friday for the last two ODIs of the New Zealand tour. The selection came a bit late yesterday, but everyone was very happy,” Ratan said.