Mohit revels in 'dream' debut

[rkt.india]

Mohit Sharma revelled in a "dream" debut after he helped skittle Zimbabwe for just 144 in the fourth ODI in Bulawayo. Entrusted with the new ball, as he had been through most of the IPL by MS Dhoni, Mohit made the first incision for India with the wicket of Sikandar Raza and then returned to remove Malcolm Waller in the batting Powerplay to snap a stubborn middle-order stand. "Yeah, it all feels like a dream," Mohit said. "But I have worked on my bowling and it is showing. I am ready to do well in whatever opportunity I am going to get. I was just focusing on keeping things simple and sticking to basics. I did not want to try too many things and it worked for me today." It was that same formula that first brought Mohit success in the Ranji Trophy with Haryana and it also worked a treat at this year's IPL, where he emerged as one of the most miserly and effective new-ball bowlers of the tournament. It was also noticeable that, during every Indian nets session on this tour, Mohit consistently impressed with his ability to hit a length on or around off stump with almost every delivery. A correct call at the toss by Virat Kohli supplied Mohit with almost ideal conditions this morning and, apart from a single wide probably brought about by nervous excitement, his first over in international cricket was exemplary. He beat Vusi Sibanda's bat four times in that first over, and it wasn't until his third that a run was scored off the bat. It was his stock outswinger that brought his maiden wicket, with Raza feathering one behind, and Mohit's opening six-over spell yielded just 13 runs. After a brief turn in the middle overs, Kohli brought him back for the Powerplay, with a well-set Waller and Elton Chigumbura having taken 11 runs from the first over under the fielding restrictions. Sharma responded to his captain's call with Waller's dismissal, also via the outside edge. A battling 80-run stand was broken, and Zimbabwe quickly subsided. "It is difficult to bowl in Powerplays but we work hard in practice sessions," Mohit explained. "We create match situations during training and bowl a lot and that has helped in matches. And that is why we don't feel much pressure in matches. Playing under Mahi bhai [Dhoni] and in pressure conditions has taught me a lot. I am just carrying that experience into the international level." Everyone already knew that Mohit could do a job with the new ball, and such was the ineptitude of Zimbabwe's batting that his ability to vary his bowling with slower balls - which, again was on prime display in the IPL - and yorkers has not yet been tested. He's in no rush to add new strings to his bow, however, and given his successes so far that's understandable. "After coming into the Indian team I have learnt a lot from bowling coach Joe Dawes. It's just about sticking to the basics and working on your strengths and improving on that. As far as learning new things in bowling, I can do that later and not in match situations. Now I want to focus on the next game and doing well in that as well."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v-india-2013/content/story/657473.html

Selectors are not statisticians. They don’t go by numbers; they go by instinct. The year was 2007 and Ashwini Kumar came across a lad during the Haryana Under-19 selection trials. The boy didn’t have a great age-group record, but he did have a reputation. Kumar, then the chief selector of the junior selection panel, went by gut feel and picked him. If Kumar deserves credit for spotting the prodigiously talented medium-pace bowler, then you’ve got to give it to Vijay Yadav, the former India wicketkeeper, for nurturing him since he was 12. On Thursday, more than six years later, Mohit Sharma’s gurus felt triumphantly vindicated. After all, their ward became only the second Indian player ever to pocket the Man of the Match award on ODI debut. Sandeep Patil had done the same in 1980. But interestingly, neither watched Sharma make the new ball talk in the fourth ODI against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Talk of superstitions! For the record, Sharma returned figures of 10-3-26-2 as India cruised to yet another victory in the horribly one-sided series. He bowled three spells in all, bowling a tight line in each of them to hasten the end of Zimbabwe’s innings for just 144. The Haryana bowler, who has played no more than 11 first-class matches, seven domestic one-dayers and a full season for Chennai Super Kings, bowled a brilliant opening spell of 6-2-13-1. Sikandar Raza was his first victim, the opener edging one to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik. Kohli reintroduced him in the middle overs. Sharma stuck to the basics, swinging the ball to good effect and bowling the occasional bouncer. He failed to get a wicket, though. Six overs later, Sharma returned to dismiss Malcolm Waller, also caught behind, to reduce the hosts to 127/6. Waller and Elton Chigumbara had staged a recovery act by lifting their side from 47/5. “After the third ODI, Mohit rang me up. He sounded worried and nervous. ‘Sir, three matches gone and I haven’t played yet’,” childhood coach Yadav said. “I told him to be patient. And he said he was itching to do well if given a chance. I am glad he bowled well on debut.” Kumar, who is now the coach of Haryana’s Ranji Trophy side, has watched Sharma go from strength to strength. “Before the IPL, Mohit was relatively unknown, but don’t forget he was one of the most consistent bowlers in the last Ranji season. In fact, he finished as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with 37 scalps in just eight matches,” Kumar informed. Yadav recalls the days when Sharma was laid low with a serious back injury. “He was barely 19, but I remember the hard work he put in then. Many thought he would play again. He was bed-ridden for months together. But he fought his way back,” Yadav says. Kumar offers a sneak peek into Sharma’s personality. “He comes across as a shy fellow, but he is a great dancer and singer. Our off-season camps are real fun. He is also good at giving pep talks,” he says. Wonder if Kohli and the other seniors know of their multi-talented teammate. God save him if they do!

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1868767/report-mohit-sharma-becomes-second-indian-after-sandeep-patil-to-be-adjudged-man-of-the-match-on-odi-debut

[Haarkarjeetgaye]

its zimbabwe for god sake.

[rkt.india]

its zimbabwe for god sake.

Same Zimbabwe beaten us last time we were in Zimbabwe twice.

[vayuu1]

What's his speed .

[div]

What's his speed .

128k-135k

[Prakat]

This is overkill of a pretty standard debut against a weak opponent. MoM is judged by commentators who can be guided by policy. Either Mohit has a guardian or BCCI wants to propr him up.

[jj_28]

Mohit speed is around 130-140k which is pretty good, he's accurate, he can swing the ball both ways and he can bowl at the death Exactly what we need right now in ODI

[rkt.india]

Hope, he is also included in India A team for SA A tour.

[vayuu1]

I think from what i have seen in the ipl,he can crank speed from early to mid 130's to early 140's ,he certainly not a trundler,what's nice to see is the swing with wobbly seam,ability to cut the ball ,when it lands on seam Ala asif,it's nice to see variety in Indian pace attack,Bhuvi has swing,umi has pace,pisu has bounce,Aaron has pace and accuracy,mohit has the ability to cut the ball of the seam,Shami has good control as well,the guy warming bench,suyal,anwar ahmed,shukla,kaul,dudhat,rajpoot,warrior,ravikant,sayeed,hope these guys come good.

[div]

I think from what i have seen in the ipl' date=he can crank speed from early to mid 130's to early 140's ,he certainly not a trundler,what's nice to see is the swing with wobbly seam,ability to cut the ball ,when it lands on seam Ala asif,it's nice to see variety in Indian pace attack,Bhuvi has swing,umi has pace,pisu has bounce,Aaron has pace and accuracy,mohit has the ability to cut the ball of the seam,Shami has good control as well,the guy warming bench,suyal,anwar ahmed,shukla,kaul,dudhat,rajpoot,warrior,ravikant,sayeed,hope these guys come good.

Mithun was hitting 140s consistenty today with a top speed of 145. Was putting in a lot of effort and it showed on the speed gun. Was bowling good line and length and with some luck could have added a few more wickets. Maintained that speed in his 2nd spell as well. Unlike the last 2 IPLs, when we saw too many Indian pacers content with bowling low 130s, this time a number of our pacers are going over 140. Thats good to see. Hopefully from this lo,t at least a couple can continue to maintain those speeds in one dayers and first class cricket as well.

http://www.indiancricketfans.com/showthread.php?t=264678&page=3&highlight=IPL4

[fineleg]

Can we stop the HYPE about Mohit Sharma? He bowled decent but this is just Zimbabwe and just one match for heavensake!!! Lets save all this hype about him for after a year or two of Intl cricket.

[King Tendulkar]

Can we stop the HYPE about Mohit Sharma? He bowled decent but this is just Zimbabwe and just one match for heavensake!!!

Why is it when some one does well and catches the eye, then people comment that he looks good and could do well, this is thenequated with HYPE. This is a cricket forum for gods sake, to discuss cricket and think aloud. Thats the fun. Discussion. If you had your way we would say nothing and be bland and just sit on fence and be boring zzzzzzzzzzzz You are the opposite you dont praise but want to criticise every single thing

[King Tendulkar]

Can we stop the HYPE about Mohit Sharma? He bowled decent but this is just Zimbabwe and just one match for heavensake!!! Lets save all this hype about him for after a year or two of Intl cricket.

Rememebr no praise allowed for mohit for 2 years min. :haha: Can we praise BK, has he completed two years? Please confirm

[jalebi_bhai]

He looks a bit like Ashutosh from Roadies 5.......

[Prakat]

We are like the Pakis are with their upcoming batsmen. We want to build them up in our minds in a hurry before they fizzle away. If we don't celebrate them now then we will never be able to do it. We take time to give a new batsman his due, sensibly so. Different opponents, different pitches, a long run to prove it's not just a good form. All of them pass an agnipariksha before we accept them. We can't afford to do that with our bowling stocks.

[div]

We are like the Pakis are with their upcoming batsmen. We want to build them up in our minds in a hurry before they fizzle away. If we don't celebrate them now then we will never be able to do it. We take time to give a new batsman his due, sensibly so. Different opponents, different pitches, a long run to prove it's not just a good form. All of them pass an agnipariksha before we accept them. We can't afford to do that with our bowling stocks.

True.Irfan,Balaji,Munaf.RP,Sreesanth,PK..most Indian bowlers can survive only 2-3 seasons at this level. But Umesh Yadav deserves some hype :winky:

[Prakat]

^ hype is fine when the person is in the domestic league and stands out as a talent but has got no recognition. Once he's in the national side we have to let them perform a season. I don't mind backing Umesh and Aaron. They are the unicorns of Indian cricket. :D

[deathmonger]

We are like the Pakis are with their upcoming batsmen. We want to build them up in our minds in a hurry before they fizzle away. If we don't celebrate them now then we will never be able to do it. We take time to give a new batsman his due, sensibly so. Different opponents, different pitches, a long run to prove it's not just a good form. All of them pass an agnipariksha before we accept them. We can't afford to do that with our bowling stocks.

FAST bowling.

[cowboysfan]

I would rather see somebody like Mohit bowl in loi cricket than Umesh who has terrible control over line and length.

[Laaloo]

Another overrated clown in the team because of the csk mafias and not because of his 'tailunt' :headshake: