“50 wickets in this Ranji Trophy season,” reads a photo caption posted by Services’ fast bowler Diwesh Pathania on his Instagram profile. The right-arm bowler scalped a total of 50 wickets from 9 matches in this season. But this is not the first instance where Pathania has been in terrific form.
For the last three Ranji seasons, the Services bowler has been knocking the selectors’ doors with his performances at the domestic level and to add to this, his form has just got better and better.
In a conversation with Cricket22yards, the 30-year-old shared his experience and what has kept him going despite being ignored by the selectors and the IPL franchises.
“I had a couple of good Ranji seasons earlier and my performances in the Duleep Trophy and Vijay Hazare trophy helped me boost my confidence,” said Pathania after achieving new milestones in this season.
The Services side had a good Ranji Trophy 2019-20 season where they just lost 2 games and won five out of the nine they played.
While talking about his side not making it to the quarter-finals despite a good show, Pathania insisted that luck played an important role in their elimination.
The match against Assam was called-off and ended in a draw due to protest in the state while he wasn’t able to ball in the second innings against Chattisgarh after being hospitalised as he was diagnosed with viral fever.
“We had a good season this year but unfortunately the Assam game ended in a draw where we lost some points while I was hospitalised before the second innings against Chattisgarh and didn’t bowl a single ball,” he said.
Talking about the improvements Services side requires, Pathania said, “we have a good and talented team but the only thing we need to improve is our batting.”
“They have the capability of scoring huge amount of runs but need to focus more when they are out in the middle,” he added.
Pathania made few changes in his bowling action and run-up and discussing the same he said, “Earlier my body used to fall more towards the left side and now I keep it straight in line and this has really helped me,” he told.
Diwesh’s tally of 50 wickets included four 5-for and a couple of four-wicket hauls in this season.
