Good show in Kenya tour could answer Baroda's woes

VADODARA: Though Baroda lost finals against Gujarat in the recently concluded Kenya tri-series, it may have got solutions for its opening pair woes and shortage of all-rounders. Baroda batsmen Jaykishan Kolsawala put up an impressive performance as an opener during the tour by scoring a century in three-day game. Another opener Kedar Deodhar, too, put up decent performance with bat apart from all-rounder Swapnil Singh.
Baroda always enjoyed a strong opening pair for over last one decade with veteran batsmen like Jacob Martin, Satyajit Parab and Connor Williams standing like a wall against all kinds of opposition. However, after Martin retired, the openers' slot started looking weak. Though the selectors did try to reshuffle the batting order and bring in youngsters, not many batsmen put up impressive performance. However, 21-year-old Kolsawala seems to have qualities of opening batsmen.
He was the fifth highest run-getter in the one-dayers in Kenya tour with 151 runs from five matches and highest score of 84 runs as opener. He scored an unbeaten century against Kenya in a three-day game. The southpaw is a regular opener in Baroda's junior and U-22 cricket tournaments and has shown required patience and grit. Deodhar, who played his first Ranji match last season, too is in contention for the opener's slot. He had scored half century on his first-class debut when he was sent as an opener.
Nineteen-year-old all-rounder Swapnil Singh bagged 13 wickets from five one-dayers and scored 151 runs including a century. Singh, who has played five first class matches for Baroda, was the highest wicket-taker in the Kenya tour. "The tour has yielded expected results as now we have good bench strength of batsmen and all-rounders. Both Kolsawala and Deodhar can well become regular openers for Baroda team. The selectors should back the youngsters and allow them to play more first-class games," said sources in BCA.
"Singh can become a third quality all-rounder and support Yusuf and Irfan Pathan in the team," added sources. Yusuf too displayed what is in store this Ranji season by scoring 268 runs from four one-dayers that includes a century and two half tons. While wicket-keeper Pinal Shah scored a ton and was second highest run-getter in the tour with 249 runs from five one-dayers at an average of 62.25. "We hope that Baroda performs well this season with its correct blend of experienced and young players," said a BCA official.
tushar.tere@timesgroup.com