Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

Meditation helped me get better: Gurbani

- HT Correspond­ent sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

INDORE: One of the reasons behind Vidarbha’s historic Ranji Trophy win is the emergence of fast bowler Rajneesh Gurbani, who finished the tournament as the team’s highest wicket-taker and second highest overall, with 39 wickets in six matches.

Making his first-class debut in October 2016, little did he know that in a year’s time fortune would change.

His haul of 12 for 162 in the semi-final against Karnataka brought him into the limelight. On Day 2 of the final against Delhi, Gurbani changed the course of the game in the space of seven deliveries and also entered the record books, becoming only the second player to claim a hat-trick in a Ranji final after Tamil Nadu’s B Kalyanasun­daram.

Dismissing the well-set Gautam Gambhir and Nitish Rana in the second innings confirmed that he is a man for big occasions. “I’ve developed a winning attitude with time. Meditation and visualisat­ion have helped me,” Gurbani, who won the Man of the Match in the final, told Hindustan Times.

“I’ve always felt that if pressure is more as compared to excitement, you can’t perform.”

Gurbani admitted he had no knowledge of how important nutrition is when he started but made it a point to follow a strict routine, heading into the 2017-18 season. “When I made my debut last year, I didn’t know what were the things I needed to take care of.

“But this season, I was aware of what I needed to do gym wise, fitness wise and nutrition wise,” he added. Gurbani praised India fast bowler and state teammate Umesh Yadav, saying having played enough internatio­nal cricket, the 30-year-old is ready to help youngsters.

 ?? PTI ?? Rajneesh Gurbani was a key player for Vidarbha.
PTI Rajneesh Gurbani was a key player for Vidarbha.

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