Lagatar24 Desk
Chennai: From upsetting Virat Kohli in the nets to taking down Cheteshwar Pujara in a critical Ranji Trophy match, Tamil Nadu’s fast-bowling star Gurjapneet Singh has been making waves in Indian cricket. The 25-year-old, originally from Ambala, faced numerous rejections from Punjab’s age-group teams before moving to Chennai in search of better opportunities. After overcoming early struggles, Gurjapneet has now become a key player for Tamil Nadu, most recently delivering a match-winning performance against Saurashtra in the Elite Group D of the Ranji Trophy.
In this match, Gurjapneet claimed an impressive six-wicket haul, with figures of 14-5-22-6, which included dismissals of cricket stalwarts Cheteshwar Pujara and Sheldon Jackson.
The Nets Incident with Virat Kohli
Gurjapneet, who had been a net bowler for India during their two-match Test series against Bangladesh, recounted a memorable moment when he bowled Kohli out during practice. The incident left the star batsman visibly frustrated, although it was more directed at himself than the young bowler.
“After I bowled him, I looked at him and didn’t dare to look at him again,” Gurjapneet recalled in an interview with The Indian Express. “He was very, very angry. But I realized he was angrier with himself. After a straight drive, he looked at me and smiled.”
Virat Kohli’s Game-Changing Advice
Despite the intense moment, Kohli offered Gurjapneet some crucial advice that would help him in future matches, including the game against Saurashtra. “He told me, when there is no movement, change the angle and try bowling around the wicket. With that angle, even if you manage to get slight movement, it will end up troubling most batsmen,” Gurjapneet revealed. This strategy proved effective when he dismissed experienced batsmen like Pujara in the Ranji Trophy.
Planning Cheteshwar Pujara’s Dismissal
Gurjapneet also spoke about his approach to bowling to Pujara, one of India’s most dependable batsmen. Describing Pujara as a “legend,” Gurjapneet knew he had to be spot-on from the very first ball.
“When you bowl to a legendary batsman like him, you have to be accurate from the word go,” he explained. His plan was to force Pujara onto the back foot before delivering a well-placed ball to make him uncomfortable. After going wicketless in the first innings, Tamil Nadu bowling coach L Balaji encouraged him to stay focused on getting the breakthrough. “Bala bhai told me to go out there looking for a wicket and stick to the plan. With the pitch not offering much, bowling around the stumps was the best option, and it worked,” Gurjapneet said.
Onwards for Gurjapneet Singh
While Gurjapneet continues to impress in the domestic circuit, he will be keenly watching Kohli return to action as India takes on New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru. The young pacer, with his newfound confidence and skills, has set his sights on even bigger achievements in the future.
