CHENNAI: “I don’t really set targets. I never have. I feel that setting specific goals takes an extra toll on you because of the added pressure that comes along with them. I’d rather take what comes my way and be in the moment.”
These words may seem like one among the numerous, paraphrased-into-oblivion pearls of wisdom that self-help books bandy about. But, Ravikumar Samarth’s explanation of how he wishes to approach a maiden call-up to the India A side — as a replacement for Abhinav Mukund in the four-day squad, who will be a part of the Sri Lanka-bound India contingent — for their upcoming tour of South Africa has a tonality that is far removed from vaguely strung-together words.
“I was elated when I got the news. It’s been a couple of days and it’s sunken in. Now I’m focussed only on my practice sessions,” elaborated the 24-year-old Karnataka right-hander.
Samarth’s in-the-present-moment attitude isn’t an of-late tweak to his moral compass. The Mysore native’s summing up of his outings for the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) XI during the Safi Darashah all-India tournament four years ago is proof enough.
“It was the biggest turning point of my career, to be honest. I neither expected nor planned the things that happened then. My primary focus was to be out there and stick to my game,” reminisced Samarth. The 850 runs that he notched up during the event — including six centuries, with five of them coming on the trot — was what propelled him from age-level cricket to the Ranji Trophy in the same year.
Samarth’s Stick Cricket-esque streak in Safi Darashah wasn’t a flash in the pan; a fact attested to by his performances in the years after. In his first full season for Karnataka (2014-15), Samarth ratcheted up 726 runs. The next yielded 513, and at the last year’s edition, he made 702. “My last three years in the domestic circuit have helped me improve the way I think when I’m at the crease. I’ve also worked on my approach towards batting, which involves judging every ball as per its merit. These experiences are definitely going to be of help in South Africa. I’m placing extra emphasis on preparing for bouncy pitches.”
An opportunity of big magnitude notwithstanding, Samarth has yet another reason to be chuffed about his sojourn to the Rainbow Nation: the presence of Karun Nair as skipper, who also happens to be the former’s childhood friend. “We get along really well. Also our thinking is quite similar. That said, I feel that there’s a lot that I can learn from him. I’m glad that he’s around.”
rahulravi@newindianexpress.com