Pankaj Singh, who played two Tests for India in 2014 against England, has expressed to work hard and improve as a bowler before eyeing to play for the national team.
“I’ve achieved a lot. From where I started I didn’t know I will make it this far. However, somewhere at the back of my mind it was always there that I want to play for India,” Pankaj told First Post.
The Uttar Pradesh-born lanky right-arm bowler Pankaj is the first Rajasthan bowler and fourth Indian overall to achieve the feat of 400 wickets in first-class circuit.
“It’s just one thing to work harder, keep improving until my dream of playing for the Indian team again is fulfilled,” Pankaj said.
Pankaj was also the third joint highest wicket-taker alongside Mohamamed Siraj (Hyderabad) and Shadab Jakati (Goa) with 41 wickets at an average of 22.07 in eight Ranji Trophy games in the recently concluded season.
“I couldn’t have done anything about people coming up with the tag of ‘Unlucky Pankaj’ and continuing with it. By thinking about it more, I wasn’t going to change it,” Pankaj added.
Pankaj, who made his international debut in 2010 against Zimbabwe at Harare, said he is eager to make an international comeback after being overlooked since England’s disappointing tour.
“I take my life this way: try to do whatever you can, don’t think too much about what you cannot. This helps and motivates me a lot to keep performing in cricket,” Revealed pankaj.
Interestingly, Pankaj narrateed the story when former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni told him “Itna aasan nahi, yeh cricket hai (It’s not that easy in cricket)” after he picked a wicket on his 415th ball in the form of Joe Root.
“He [Dhoni] told me to try and try, and that I was bowling well and that it was the only thing that I could do,” Pankaj said.
After returning back home from England, Pankaj played an important role for Rajasthan in domestic circuit.
“I had bowled well in the Duleep Trophy and then took 40 wickets in seven matches. What is in my hands is to perform to the best of my abilities whenever I play,” Pankaj recalled.
Pankaj also admitted he feels frustrated when he is off-color during the games, but also states going wicket-less is a part and parcel and bowlers are supposed to learn from it.
“When I went with the Indian team for the first time and didn’t get a chance to play, of course, I felt devastated as it was my childhood dream to play for the country. That determination was always there and the hunger to fulfil my dream kept on increasing,” Pankaj concluded.
In 102 first-class appearances, Pankaj has bagged 412 wickets, which includes 25 five-fors and four 10-wicket hauls at an average of 24.94, with best figures of 8/32.