CHENNAI: All it takes is a 10-minute conversation over the phone to know that Krishnamoorthy Vignesh is at the moment a very happy man. Why wouldn’t he be? Especially when ‘stellar’ is the only word that can possibly be used to sum up the cricketing sojourn of the 23-year-old over the past four months or so.
“It has been a great season for me,” remarks Vignesh about his debut stint for Tamil Nadu in the recently-concluded Ranji Trophy. The Thiruvallur-born right-arm speedster was instrumental in Tamil Nadu’s progress to the semifinal of the event, a fact that is adequately underscored by his 37 scalps in the tournament: the best for his team and the sixth-best overall.
“Considering that it was my first time, I don’t think many would have expected me to perform the way I did. But, looking back at the hard work that I’d put in, I’m really glad as to how things have shaped up till date.” It is perhaps this same commitment to rigour that may have prompted a show of benevolence from the New Year: the presence of Vignesh's name in the Rest of India squad for this year's Irani Cup clash, slated for January 20-24 in Mumbai.
If the chance to rub shoulders with 15 other top cricketers from the country was the icing on the cake, it came festooned with a cherry as well: trial opportunities with IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils. “Both went very well. The one for Mumbai happened in December in Baroda, while the Delhi one took place 10 days ago in Bengaluru," he says.
The highlight was during the Delhi trials when he had the chance to interact with TA Sekhar (Delhi's bowling coach) and Rahul Dravid (mentor). “I’m familiar with Sekhar sir as I’ve trained with him before in Chemplast (Vignesh turns out for Jolly Rovers). Dravid sir had a chat with me about the way I should carry the momentum I’ve built this season forward.”
Such news might prompt many to unwind for a day or two, but not Vignesh. Taking into consideration the fact that he and his family shifted to a house in T Nagar from Ambattur solely for the pacer's professional commitments, it isn’t difficult to deduce that letting his hair down would for certain feature at the bottom of his how-to-start-the-New-Year agenda.
“I took two days to go out and meet my friends (after returning to Chennai after Ranji Trophy semifinal). After that, I’ve gotten back to business. I haven’t been focusing on taking a break since I need to be in constant touch with cricket. I’ve been training at Chemplast. Plus, a T20 camp (for the Syed Mushtaq Trophy) is also going to come up in some days. I haven’t taken a New Year resolution, but if I had to, playing more cricket would be it,” he grins.