Counter-attack the buzzword for Gupta

CHANDIGARH: He was not even born when back in 1972, West Indian Lawrence Rowe created history by scoring a double hundred on his debut Test innings. Rewind to 2017 and a Jalandhar lad launched his first-class debut with a strokeful double ton against Himachal Pradesh. One does not dare to draw an equation between Test cricket and first-class cricket, but Punjab stumper Abhishek Gupta’s knock does remind a cricket fanatic of the Jamaican whose Test career though didn’t progress much despite a dramatic debut.

The double hundred has done Abhishek’s confidence a world of good as he followed it up on Saturday with a determined 89 on a green top against Vidarbha in his team’s second tie this season. His heroics deserve accolades since he stood his ground despite the rest of the team falling like a pack of cards. Courtesy the double hundred, Gupta became the 15th cricketer to achieve the feat on first-class debut and sixth from India and the first-ever wicketkeeper. He also became the ninth player to score a double hundred on

Ranji

Trophy debut and second from Punjab after Jiwanjot Singh. Moreover, he completed his double ton off the 200th ball he faced, which is the second fastest by any batsman on first-class debut.

Ask him about his enviable start to his first-class career and pat comes the reply, “It was an amazing feeling. It was the most important knock of my life and I have no words to describe it.” And a bonus was being watched by legendary Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, also the Punjab skipper who reportedly spotted the talented batsman. “Bhajji pa was watching my batting. He also praised my batting after the end of the day,” said Abhishek who made his Ranji debut at the age of 27.

Life though wasn’t a bed of roses for Abhishek who toiled hard for years in the domestic circuit in Punjab to fulfill the dream of his father, a trader of edible oil in Jalandhar. In the previous season, Punjab had Gitansh Khera as their main wicketkeeper-batsman. However, Gitansh did not have a good season in 2016-17, and with a brilliant performance in the Katoch Shield tournament, Gupta finally made the cut.

To make a first-class debut at the age of 27 could sound late but he expected a call-up sooner rather than later. “It was pretty much expected because I am the only wicketkeeper in the team this year. Also, I had scored 650 runs in 5 matches at Katoch Shield before the Ranji call-up," said Abhishek.

Abhishek took to cricket at the age of fourteen and have represented Punjab in U-14, U-19, U-21 and U-23 categories. However ignored by the state selectors he almost decided to hang up his boots in 2014. “I actually thought about quitting cricket because I was not getting Punjab call-up. But bygones and bygones and I look forward to this season,” he said.

And it is not just his prowess over the willow that is making headlines. Behind the stumps he is turning out to be a reliable factor with a safe pair of hands. “It is quite filmy as during my school days I had to chip in as a wicket-keeper since nobody else was interested. It was my school coach who gave me the gloves and said the breeds of wicketkeepers are very rare. So I latched on to it,” said Abhishek, who idolizes himself on former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara. “I love Adam Gilchrist’s swashbuckling style and his wicket keeping abilities, although, Kumar Sangakkara is my idol. He was such a class player and has been consistent throughout his

cricketing career

,” said Abhishek.

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