Since making his first-class debut for Punjab within the 2011-12 season, Baltej Singh Dhanda has performed solely 15 matches. Out of these, six got here within the 2019-20 season. At 31, the second- most senior participant within the facet after Gurkeerat Singh Mann has lastly discovered his second wind.
In the primary match of the continuing season, the seamer bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in opposition to Himachal Pradesh and is hungry for extra within the subsequent few video games.
“It took me 10 years and 14 matches to bag my first five-wicket haul. One can recognize how important the second have to be for me. It was priceless; Hopefully I’ll get extra sooner or later,” Baltej instructed The Indian Express.
Despite taking heaps of wickets within the Katoch Shield, Punjab’s inter-district match, he used to heat the bench for the state facet on most events. Punjab’s quick bowling shares comprised VRV Singh, Manpreet Gony, Siddharth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma and Barinder Sran left Baltej sixth or seventh within the pecking order. “The competition has been so tough that I got in only if a couple of them were injured or doing national duty. I would be lucky to play one match in a season, and if everyone were available, I would not even be in the squad,” he recalled.
It wasn’t sufficient to get him into the Indian under-19 squad, though he was among the many standbys for the 2010 junior World Cup. (PTI)
Growing up in Ludhiana’s Kaddon village, Baltej’s past love was hockey. The budding central midfielder used to play cricket solely in odd faculty tournaments. His childhood coach, Harbhajan Kala, noticed Baltej in one of many hockey video games, and requested him if he had any curiosity in cricket.
“I was in my school’s cricket team also. I told him I was a fast bowler; he invited me into his academy for a trial. It was Kala sir, who first told me that I have the potential and can become a good bowler,” mentioned Baltej.
In 2010, Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) held a trial for quick bowlers. Kala took Baltej there and he was instantly picked for the Ludhiana Under-19 staff. Baltej used to cowl the 24-km journey from his village to LDCA on his bicycle, however the exertion made him much more decided. Slowly, cricket took priority over hockey.
Within a yr, Baltej was within the Punjab Under-19 squad and emerged as the most effective bowler for his state within the Cooch Behar and Vinoo Mankad age-group tournaments. It wasn’t sufficient to get him into the Indian under-19 squad, though he was among the many standbys for the 2010 junior World Cup.
Injury setback
If the frustration of lacking out on the premier age-group world match was not sufficient, Baltej suffered a again harm and was by no means the identical bowler once more. “I lost my pace drastically after the stress fracture,” he mentioned.
But the teen by no means gave up. His father Jagjit Singh Dhanda, a boxer within the Indian Army, was his best supply of encouragement. “My father used to tell me stories about his days in the Army. How they used to stay awake for 3-4 days without having a single bite of food. He used to motivate me a lot,” he recollected.
In 2015, Baltej attended an MRF Pace Foundation teaching clinic in Chennai, the place he met Australian nice Glenn McGrath. It modified his notion in the direction of his bowling.
“I don’t even remember how many trials I have given in the last 10 years. I have attempted my luck with every franchise,” mentioned Baltej, who was acquired by Punjab Kings at his base value of Rs 20 lakh within the latest IPL mega public sale.
“McGrath told me to stop worrying about lack of pace and realise that I was a seam bowler and with my height, I will always get natural bounce, which meant that if I bowled in the right areas, I could get wickets,” mentioned the six-foot-three-inch Baltej.
The precious recommendation in addition to his personal arduous work and prowess resulted in Baltej cementing his place within the Punjab state staff. Now his subsequent purpose was to get an Indian Premier League contract. He has misplaced rely of the variety of trials he had attended during the last decade.
“I don’t even remember how many trials I have given in the last 10 years. I have attempted my luck with every franchise,” mentioned Baltej, who was acquired by Punjab Kings at his base value of Rs 20 lakh within the latest IPL mega public sale.
Baltej was picked as a web bowler for the franchise within the final version. “I met Damien Wright (Punjab Kings bowling coach) final yr and he helped me with minor changes in my bowling, which labored in my favour. He instructed me that if I can bowl that high of the off-stump line, as a substitute of bowling on the fourth stump, I will probably be extra profitable,” he mentioned.
With an IPL contract in his bag, Baltej now hopes to finish the home season with as many wickets as he can in order that he might get an opportunity to play for India A.
“Thoda hai, thode ki chahat hai (I’ve received one thing, however need a little bit bit extra). I wish to get as many wickets as doable within the subsequent two matches and hopefully get on the selectors’ radar, and possibly get an opportunity for India A,” he signed off.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
