khil Herwadkar — an off-spinner and hard-hitting left-hander — will join Mumbai Ranji teammate Shreyas Iyer in the Delhi Daredevils squad for IPL 2016. Former India ‘A’ and Mumbai Ranji coach, Praveen Amre, got the franchise interested in the young all-rounder. “I had pushed for Shreyas last year, not because he is from Mumbai like me. He scored 800 runs in first-class cricket. Any player doing that is capable. This year, he crossed 1000 runs in a season and looks hungry as ever.”
Herwadkar played for Mumbai under Amre in the past and continues to churn out match-winning feats under current Ranji coach Chandrakant Pandit. A century against Tamil Nadu — which was marked by a composed batting performance facing the likes of R Ashwin — saw Amre underline the India U-19 player in the DD shopping list. The 22-year-old joined the franchise at his base price of Rs 10 lakh. “We are investing in future Indian talent. As coach, we have work to do when signing youngsters.”
The left-hander’s current form earned him the ‘Man-of-the-match’ award in last week’s Ranji quarterfinal against Jharkhand at Mysuru.
Amre points out: “Ashwin had returned from playing for India and Akhil hit three consecutive fours off the off-spinner. I also watched him score a century against Delhi. With their ability in first-class cricket, players can adjust to T20. Shreyas proved me right. Let us see how Akhil fits into a new setup.”
The DD assistant coach is looking at his latest recruit as a batting all-rounder. “He scored runs as an opening batsman for Mumbai in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Ranji Trophy. The opener slot is also an option.”
Mumbai cricket is aware of Herwadkar’s hard-hitting ability, from the time he rose through age-group cricket in MCA events, to the India U-19 and senior Mumbai squads. It took time for him to translate his U-19 promise (ICC U-19 World Cup 2013-14).
“It happens with some players; they need the coach’s backing. Shreyas was not a regular opener. He straightaway opened in the IPL and got runs.”
DD had paid Rs 2.6 crore for the latter, far above his base price of Rs 10 lakh last year. As it turned out, the investment in the young talent paid off.
Both opened the innings in this season’s Ranji Trophy under Mumbai coach Pandit, egging each other on.
Herwadkar’s first innings ton against Jharkhand in the quarterfinals saw Shreyas respond with a century in the second. The all-rounder got three wickets with his off-breaks to earn the ‘Man-of-the-match’ award.
Next week is the semifinal at Cuttack, with a youthful, but aggressive Mumbai squad taking on Madhya Pradesh. IPL 2016 is a long way off for these two run-makers.
The five-day version demands a different mindset from the T20 version played under floodlights. Herwadkar and Shreyas, teammates at Mumbai and later at Delhi Daredevils, have coaches keeping track of their progress.
Pandit is a hard taskmaster, and players who are able to execute team plans in match situations will determine his choices for each game. Happy to get another youngster into the DD squad, Amre is waiting for the two teens to join the ranks.
