Faisalabad: Rudra Pratap Singh hasn't stopped smiling after his award-winning performance at Faisalabad. "A Man of the Match award in my first Test is a very big morale booster. It will add to my confidence," he remarked smilingly, unable to hide his joy.
"I will consider this award as a reward for my attempt to bowl at a good line and length," added the 20-year-old pacer.
Singh hails from the city of Rai Bareli in North India. He says that he was interested in the game right from a very early age and hence utilised all his spare time on the game. By the age of 17, he began to be talked about as a promising pacer and soon got selected in the India under-19 team.
"When I got selected to play for India Under-19 team in the World Cup at Dhaka, I bowled very well throughout the tournament," he said.
Singh's biggest surprise was when he was called to join the senior national team's camp for probables in Bangalore in 2003.
"I bowled my heart out at the camp. Ganguly, Wright and Kapil Dev were very impressed with my bowling. In fact, Ganguly complimented me and that inspired me to work harder," he said.
Singh noted that the experience from that camp brought about a total change in his life. "Wright and Kapil further boosted my confidence. Kapil, whom I address only as Paji, taught me how to hold the seam and use it to get wickets. He taught me how to hit the seam on the pitch," he said.
Singh always recollects one important advice given to him by Kapil while bowling. "He told me that whenever I bowl, I should never forget to read the mind of the batsman. I do that often and it has helped me a lot," said Singh, who plays for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy.
According to Singh, the experience at the national camp in Bangalore will always remain with him. He believes that it was while practising there that he realised that one day he could get to play for India.
"I got to bowl to players like Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid and Ganguly for hours. I put all my effort and bowled at my best at the nets," he says.
Singh is also thankful for the experience at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai. He is looking at improving his batting too. No wonder he used to be the first to pad up early morning every day at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad and was seen taking batting tips from coach Greg Chappell.
"Now a bowler has to be a good batsman too, and so I am working hard on it. Irfan Pathan has turned out to be very useful as a batsman now, and that has prompted me to concentrate on my batting too," he remarked seriously.
Update
Akhtar struggling with fitness
Pakistan's fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is nursing an ankle injury and struggling to be available for the third and final Test against India. Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said yesterday that Shoaib had a slight problem with his ankle and it would only be known in two days' time if he is 100 per cent fit for the final test.
"Yes, his ankle is bothering him and right now we are not sure if he will be completely fit for the Test but he is very keen to play and take some wickets which is good news," Inzamam said.
The 30-year-old has struggled to get wickets in the first two drawn Tests against India, which have been played on placid pitches.
