Young left arm pacer from Gujarat, Arzan Nagwaswalla is definitely the rising star of Indian cricket. Rising strongly from the ranks of junior age-groups, he represented Gujarat in India’s prestigious Ranji Trophy, yet again adding the Parsi touch to ‘Cricket’ and making the whole community proud of his efforts. His pace, line and length and rhythm makes heads turn in the cricketing arena. Parsi Times Sports Reporter, Binaisha Surti, catches up with the cricketing prodigy – Arzan.
PT: How’s the journey been, playing age group cricket to representing Gujarat in your first Ranji Trophy season?
Arzan: It’s been a beautiful journey so far. By God’s grace I have moved up and have had a great learning experience at every level. I have been fortunate enough to see more ups than downs in my career and as I move ahead, I look forward to learning many new things so I can get better at my game and do my State, my country and my community proud!
PT: Tell us about your Ranji-Team Gujarat debut – share a glimpse about your team mates
Arzan: I made my Ranji debut against Baroda on 1st November 2018. All my team mates were thrilled and very supportive and it was a memorable moment. I look to give by best effort for Team Gujarat. Everyone has been playing together since a really long time from their age group days, so the level of understanding between them is great. Though this is my first season, they’ve been very welcoming and warm. Even though I’m somewhat introverted by nature, my team mates always talk and guide me along the way, and Priyank Panchal is a great captain. He handles the team exceptionally well and is always around to share his experience and motivates us to excel.
PT: During the recent Gujarat V/s Mumbai game at the Wankhede Stadium, you bamboozled the host side in its own den picking up 5 wickets for 78! How did it feel to pick your maiden first class five wicket haul?
Arzan: Honestly, I was very relieved after my first five wicket haul as in the previous game I managed to pick up four wickets. There was pressure as the Gujarat V/s Mumbai game was being aired live on television. My mother Maheru was very excited to see me on TV and all my relatives, friends and people in Nargol saw the game! I simply stuck to my basics while bowling, as Mumbai is a champion side and their batting line-up is deep. I wanted to give my best and was rewarded with wickets. Post this big moment, my family, especially my brother Vispi, who introduced me to bowling, had tears of happiness in their eyes. After the game I got an opportunity to go back home and I reached at 10:00 pm to find around 300 people gathered outside my house to congratulate me! They carried me on their shoulders and played drums etc! I was pleasantly surprised as this is the first time something like this has happened in my village.
PT: You’ve been putting in lots of hard work in your bowling. How do you work out your strategy and who has been instrumental in pushing up your game?
Arzan: I know that when I practise well in the nets, then I will do well in the game. You just have to apply your mind and stick to your strength. My coach, Kiran Tandel, has always supported me and even today, he advises me on the do’s and don’ts. He inspires me to play my best game in the Ranji Trophy and gain more experience, so that I can take my game to the next level. My team mate, Roosh Kalaria, is also a fab cricketer who supports and advises me.
PT: Which match, so far, has been your best?
Arzan: It would have to be the Ranji Trophy game between Gujarat and Mumbai held at Wankede Stadium in Mumbai, where I claimed five wickets (5-78 in 23.3 overs) of Mumbai’s seasoned batsmen including Siddhesh Lad, Suryakumar Yadav, Armaan Jaffer, Aditya Tare and Dhrumil Matkar. This particular match instilled in me a lot of confidence and satisfaction.
PT: What’s future plans?
Arzan: I know that whatever I do and achieve in my life, is the consequence of the process I follow. I aim to perform consistently and give my best for my side, so that in the future I move my game and my team to the next level!
- પાચનતંત્રને નોર્મલ રાખવા આટલું જરૂર કરો - 13 April2024
- ઇમોશનલ એકાઉન્ટ!! - 13 April2024
- ડબ્લયુઝેડએએસ ગ્લોબલ ફોકલોર સાથે મહિલા દિવસની ઉજવણી કરે છે - 13 April2024
