‘ KOHLI’S BATTING SKILLS INSPIRE ME’

Punjab cricketer Mandeep Singh joins a list of five uncapped players in India’s squad for the tour of Zimbabwe beginning with the first ODI on June 11.

The 24- year- old allrounder stole the limelight after his impressive show in the Under- 19 World Cup in 2010, ending as one of India’s top rungetters in the competition.

Mandeep, who made his first- class debut on November 17, 2010 against Himachal Pradesh, credits his RCB skipper Virat Kohli for inspiring him as a cricketer and the youngster wants to emulate Kohli’s skills on the field.

“Virat told me how I can better my front foot play. I used to be with him so I learnt how to better my fielding and fitness. How Virat improved his batting really inspired me. I also want to up my fitness to the level of Virat’s because when I play T20 I too want to bring to the table such kind of fitness levels and batting skills,” Mandeep, who joined RCB in 2015, said on Monday.

“Basu sir ( Shankar Basu, strength and conditioning coach of RCB) used to tell me that after Virat I am the fittest player in the team,” he added.

During Season 9 of the IPL, South Africa star AB de Villiers also provided valuable inputs to the rookie player. “AB told me ways on how to keep my head still while playing,” Mandeep said.

So how are preparations going ahead of the tour? “When I was in the RCB camp I practiced for a long time in the nets. I have improved my fitness levels a lot in the last two months.

“I also practiced at the NCA academy in Bangalore with the bowling machine,” Mandeep, who now is back home in Jalandhar, quipped.

With 57 first- class matches coupled with a healthy batting average of 43.51, the talented batsman has been knocking on Team India’s door for a while now and this tour could well be Mandeep’s claim to fame.

“I have been doing really well in the T20 format from the past two- three seasons. I have been part of the World Cup probables twice in 2012 and 2014 as well. I was there in the mix so finally the call came and it feels good,” Mandeep said.

Mandeep won the ‘ Rising Star of IPL’ award in 2012 after he amassed 432 runs for Kings XI Punjab that season.

Season 9 tells a different story. The swashbuckling batsman has managed to feature in only one game, something that does leave him disappointed.

“Yes, I was feeling a bit disappointed. Even coach Daniel Vettori told me that we are feeling bad that you are not playing.

“But then it was not in my hands so there was no point thinking about it,” he said.

Virat told me how I can better my front foot play. I used to be with him so I learnt how to better my fielding and fitness. How Virat has improved his batting has really inspired me. — MANDEEP SINGH