The focus is on the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Pragyan Ojha and Mohd. Siraj as Hyderabad is gearing up for the coming domestic season.
But, it is an indisputable fact that 22-year-old, left-arm pacer Chama Milind will continue to play the lead role with variety in the bowling attack which has two equally efficient right-arm fast bowlers Ravi Kiran and Siraj.
And, when he was bowling his heart out at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium indoor nets on Thursday morning, the intensity on Milind’s face is a reminder that he means business this season. “My job is to perform consistently,” he said.
“I prefer to take it match by match. Definitely, I will try to replicate my last season form with the ball (35 wickets and 316 runs from nine games) and bat (he hit a century too in the Ranji Trophy),” said Milind to The Hindu .
“I am trying to use the bowling crease more now to confuse the batsmen. Playing for India-A against the visiting Bangladesh at Gymkhana Ground here was a huge experience. It gave me a feel of what international cricket is all about and on what I have to really work on,” the soft-spoken pacer said.
Milind is grateful to the former Hyderabad Ranji coach B. Arun (now with the Indian team for the Sri Lanka tour) for the kind of impact he made on him. “Till date, I am in touch with Arun Sir about my cricket. Similarly, I am also grateful to Dilip sir (NCA coach Dilip) for the minor technical corrections which I had to make in my game — both in batting and bowling,” he said.
Missing Arun this season? “Yes. But, again if we follow his rich legacy as a coach with us last season, we will still be much better cricketers,” said Milind.
“I believe last season provided the perfect launch pad for me to dream big. And, I am aware that as a player you need to have two good seasons to get the big breaks and that’s what will be my target,” said the fast bowler who rarely complains when given the ball at any stage of the game.
All those who had followed Hyderabad in Ranji last season make it a point to gently remind that it was Milind’s crucial breakthroughs which played a key role in the team reaching the knock-out phase.
By all means, Milind is mentally and physically stronger and raring to go as there is a lot more maturity despite being dejected at not getting a single game for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL last season.
