Gautam Gambhir missed the Mohammad Nissar game because of a groin strain, not because he didn't want to play © Cricinfo Ltd

Hello folks

Instead of writing about the reasons for our loss and the aspects in which we were found wanting - whoever has followed the match already knows - I'd first congratulate Rest of India for retaining the Irani Cup. We lost to a better team, but we're still disappointed because we feel we could've fared a little better. The manner in which we succumbed lacked the basic quality we were very proud of last season: the fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude. We have plenty to ponder upon, and fortunately we have five more weeks to get our act together before we start our pursuit to retain the Ranji title.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for reading my blog, and the feedbacks and comments are much appreciated. I'll try and answer a few questions that have been asked by people since I started writing this blog.

Zohan asked me whether a player could miss a match whenever he felt like it, and why Gautam Gambhir didn't play in the Mohammad Nissar Trophy.

Dear Zohan, a player cannot pick and choose matches he'd like to play in or sit out of. It's subject to fitness and form. In the case of Gambhir, he had a groin strain that forced him to miss the match against Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited.

Manhar Patel wanted to know why the Delhi team didn't stay at Taj or some other decent hotel. Whose fault was that?

Dear Manhar, whenever we play an away game it's our state's responsibility to look after the team's stay. In this case it's the DDCA that should be held responsible for not arranging for our stay in a decent hotel. The BCCI did their job efficiently as the ROI team stayed at the Taj.

Udit wondered why we didn't declare on the third day against SNGPL.

A. Dear Udit, we had a target in mind for both, the number of runs and the number of overs required to bowl them out in the second innings. We had no way of knowing that rain would ruin everything. We couldn't have taken the chance of declaring too early because had there been no rain, we would've looked like fools. We needed to set them a target of at least 350 runs to make a match of it.

Haider Mahmud mentioned that I hadn't given any credit to the SNGPL bowlers for dismissing our team cheaply in the first innings.

Please accept my apologies if I forgot to mention that. They did bowl exceptionally well, and used the conditions brilliantly in the first innings. Yet, the same attack was found wanting and asked very few questions once the track flattened out in the second dig.

Piyush asked me why I chose to bat in the middle order in the second innings of the Irani Cup.

Dear Piyush, it wasn't intentional to bat down the order. I'd twisted my ankle very badly while fielding, and the swollen ankle prevented me from opening the innings. I batted with a runner in the second innings, but the injury's no excuse for getting out. Although the ankle is still giving me some trouble, I'm working overtime to get it in order and hope to be fully fit for the Board President’s XI match against the Australians.

Abhishek asked me about the importance of patience while playing in the longer version of the game.

Dear Abhishek, as you rightly mentioned patience is a very important attribute, but I'd like to add that it's equally important in all forms of the game. One needs to be patient regardless of the format. It's just that in the longer format one needs to be a little more patient. One develops patience with experience as with time one realises that one good shot doesn't get you a century, and one good ball doesn't get you a five-for. One needs to bat well for a few hours to reach the three-figure mark, and similarly one needs to bowl consistently well to take a five-for.

I've tried to answer a few of the questions and will try to do so every now and then. So please keep reading, commenting and asking.

It's time to go back and put my ankle in a bucket of ice.

Bye

	Playing with Sehwag is always a pleasure because of our understanding of each other's games which makes things that much easier in the middle © AFP

Playing with Viru is always a pleasure not just because of his wonderful strokeplay but also because of our understanding of each other's games which makes things that much easier in the middle. With him at the other end, I could be assured of not having to play six balls in an over. We would pinch almost non-existent singles with ease. We did that today as well, while we lasted. Both Viru and I are to be blamed for our downfall today as we were the only ones who got starts. It's imperative for the people who get a good start to make it into something big, more so against a quality opposition like the Rest of India. On a personal note, I was happy to get my 150th first-class catch, when I caught Wasim Jaffer off Pradeep Sangwan at second slip.

One thing that disappointed us the most was the fact that we lost too many wickets to the quick bowlers. The track is looking too worn-out for a day-two wicket and with the ball turning and bouncing, it may have been acceptable had we lost wickets to the spin bowlers. Giving away too many cheap wickets to the quicks hurt our chances big time. We not only surrendered the advantage we enjoyed at the end of day one but now we are also up against a stiff challenge.

I have always believed the third day of a match is the most crucial and it is no different in this match. The first session will set the tone for the rest of the match and probably even decide the outcome of the match. We must pull our socks up and get ready to reclaim the initiative.

Good Night.

	'When grinding is the mantra the tail struggles to inflict substantial damage' © AFP

The day didn't quite start the way we would've liked it to. We lost the toss on a typical win-the-toss-and-bat-first wicket. Though the conditions favour playing two spinners, the lack of a quality spinner among our ranks meant that we went in with our four best bowlers: three seam bowlers and Chetanya Nanda, the lone spinner.

On the other side, the ROI team opted to play five bowlers, which meant playing only five batsmen. But with MS Dhoni as the wicket-keeper, one could afford to play with one less batsman. I've played quite a few games for the ROI, and one thing has always been in common: playing five bowlers. Considering the quality of batting at their disposal, five batsmen are normally more than enough.

ROI started the day strongly, and looked in command. The ball wasn't doing anything in the air, nor off the surface. We were forced to play the waiting game, and maintaining a disciplined line and length, hoping that the batsman would commit a mistake. Even though the ball wasn't doing anything alarming off the surface, it wasn't easy to hit the ball square: the ball wasn't coming on to the bat too well, and the bounce was on the lower side. The track looked very dry on top, but perhaps there's a lot of moisture underneath and hence the ball is coming on slowly after pitching.

Once the ROI started losing wickets, we managed to tighten the noose with some inspired bowling from Ishant Sharma, Pradeep Sangwan and Nanda. All of them bowled with a lot of discipline, and maintained a tight leash. One disadvantage of playing five bowlers is that if a couple of your top-order batsmen fail and the ones who get the starts don't score big, the longish tail gets exposed a little too soon. That's exactly what happened with the ROI today, and once we saw the backs of Dhoni and Mohammad Kaif, we knew we were in with a good chance. The tail might wag for a while on surfaces like this, but when grinding is the mantra they struggle to inflict substantial damage.

Looking back at the way the day panned out, we are very satisfied with our efforts. At one stage, we were having nightmares of spending a day and half in the field waiting for the ROI to declare, but little did we know that we would be batting on the first day itself. Now the onus is on us to capitalise on our excellent bowling performance, and pile on a big score to bat the ROI out of this game.

We know that this won't be easy by any stretch of the imagination as they have a very competent attack at their disposal. The track has assisted the spinners today, which means that it will only get tougher to bat on as we come out to chase in the last innings against Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. We must seize the initiative on the second day because they have enough quality bowling and batting in their ranks to get back into the match.

But right now, it's advantage Delhi. :)

	Ranji done, Irani to go: for the Delhi players, the Irani spotlight is a just reward for the Ranji triumph © Cricinfo Ltd

Hello everyone

The Irani Trophy game between the Ranji champions and the Rest of India is a curtain raiser to the new domestic season. It has always been a high-profile game, pitting the national champions against the very best of the country. I've played in the Irani Trophy a few times in the past, but it's always been for the Rest of India. This time I'll be playing for my state team, so this is a first for me. Talking about firsts, incidentally this is also the first time I've come to Baroda. Considering I've been around on the domestic circuit for a decade, it seems bizarre even to me.

We managed a decent net session yesterday as the tracks had dried up and the ball was coming on to the bat nicely. Even though it was doing loads for the quicker bowlers, it was much better than what we batted on yesterday. There was decent grass covering on the practice wickets, a stark contrast to the track in the middle that is totally barren and looks a little too dry for a five-day match. The track on this particular IPCL ground has the reputation of helping the quicker men for a couple of reasons: the red soil that offers more bounce carrying the edges to the slips comfortably, and the open surroundings with greenery all around. The wind blows nicely and assists the seam bowlers.

The weather hasn’t been kind on the curator for the last 10 days, and it must've been really tough to prepare a decent track when it has been under covers most of the time. One might think that with all the rain around, if anything, there should be more moisture on the track, but that's seldom the case. A good curator would avoid watering it too much, taking the rains into account and leaving some room for any unexpected shower. Ergo, this track, which I am told usually has a decent grass covering and moisture, is a little dry to start with.

We're playing against a virtual India side, except for the Delhi players and Sachin Tendulkar. Instead of focusing on the players we're up against, we're focusing on our strengths, and let me assure you we have many. We're at our full strength, which hasn't happened for quite some time. One look at the talent available in our dressing room exudes confidence in the whole squad. Please don't get me wrong. I'm not taking anything away from our opposition, but I can't say anything about them that hasn't already been said or written a zillion times over.

No one would give a state team a chance to beat such a strong unit, but that only means that we have everything to gain and very little to lose from this game. Although the odds are stacked against us, we are all geared up to give the ROI a run for their money. Gautam Gambhir said something that would give you an insight into the mindset we will take in when we go in to play. He said, “We must believe that this ROI side is beatable and regardless of the situation of the match we're in, we mustn't lose that belief.”

For us this game is the reward for having won the Ranji Trophy last season, as this would offer a great opportunity and platform for everyone to showcase his talent. A few might have got this opportunity in any case - some would've been picked for the ROI - but for the rest, it's their only shot to grab the limelight.

If we play to our potential and don't allow the importance of the occasion to distract us from the job at hand, a great contest is in the offing.

Rest of India, here we come.

Please wish us luck … it's great to support the underdogs.

Cheers

	Virender Sehwag at the nets in Vadodara © PA Photos

Hi guys

We reached Baroda the day before yesterday for our Irani Trophy game against Rest of India. There was a nice air-conditioned bus waiting for us at the airport. You must be wondering as to what the big deal is about the AC bus, but let me assure you that there most certainly is. In case you're inquisitive, please keep watching this space throughout the season, and you'll come to know.

After reaching the hotel a little after 8pm we spent a few hours browsing various rooms before settling down. Some of the rooms were really small while the rest had double beds. Except for the captain everyone shares his room with another player, which is fine, but sharing the same bed doesn't sound too exciting.

The idea for coming well in advance, though, is good for a couple of reasons. Firstly the heavy rains in Delhi had put paid to any hopes of practising before the biggest game of the season. Secondly coming to the venue a couple of days in advance would help us get used to the conditions, especially the red soil found in the west. The ball tends to bounce a lot more on red soil as compared to the black soil found in the north. Once the bounce varies considerably, the way one approaches the game changes accordingly: which balls to leave - sometimes you can trust the bounce and just allow it to go through to the keeper, which balls to go forward to or back to. The bowlers can work out the length they need to bowl. All of these change with the pitch.

But luck deserted us here too as it has been raining heavily in this part of the country as well. We did get a hit in the nets, but the track was wet and so was the ground. But then something is better than nothing.

Another thing that I noticed today was the enthusiasm of the people in a small town. We'd gone to a nearby gym in the evening and the word got out. There were more than a few people queuing outside the gym to catch a glimpse of their favourite cricketers. This would never happen in a big city, but then Baroda isn't a big city.

Cheers

	'It was heartening to see Ashish Nehra find a good rhythm in the first match of the season' © AFP

Firstly I must apologise for not having written anything last week. There was an important game and plenty to share, but somehow I couldn't find enough time to sit down to write. The main reason for this was that it was a close friend's birthday week and my own too. Please don't rack your brains trying to understand the term “birthday week”. Till last year I was in the same boat, but now I know. The idea is that besides celebrating your birthday on your birthday itself, you do something special - from watching a movie to meeting up for a coffee - everyday of the week till your birthday. So the cricket in the morning and the birthday-week celebrations in the evening kept me away from the computer. Sorry about it.

Coming back to the first game of the season, against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited from Pakistan, we decided to bat first after having won the toss on a greenish wicket. Opinions differed as to whether we should have batted or bowled first, but we decided to trust the efficiency of the Kotla track, a good batting surface. The decision backfired, and backfired big time. As you'd expect from the quicker men across the border, they moved the ball around and used the conditions beautifully. Cloud cover and fading light also helped their cause, and accentuated our grief. One of the guys, Imran Ali, got a rare hat-trick and we were bundled out for a meagre 134 in our first innings.

There was something in the track for the fast bowlers, but not enough to restrict them to fewer than 134. We did manage to get breakthroughs at regular intervals, and that kept the scoring-rate in check. There was something identical about all their batsmen, their keenness to go after every short-pitched delivery bowled at them. Almost every batsman in their team was a compulsive hooker regardless of whether he played it well or not. This, perhaps, showed the typical mindset of how cricket is played in Pakistan. They're an aggressive lot, and it shows in the game too. But whether they have the skill to match their aggression is a totally different issue.

It was heartening to see Ashish Nehra bowling his heart out, and finding a good rhythm right at the beginning of the season. If we are to repeat last year's performance, we need Nehra to be fit and bowling well, especially during Ishant's expected absence during the season. Winning the Ranji Trophy is about taking 20 wickets in almost every match, and that isn't an easy job. Another positive from our bowling effort was the way Chetanya Nanda bowled. He has developed a couple of new deliveries in the off-season, and is bowling with a lot more control. We've always lacked good spinners in our side, and if Nanda manages to take his game to the next level we'll benefit immensely.

We conceded a 132-run first-innings lead that seemed manageable since the track had eased out considerably. In addition to that we had the batting depth to compensate for our first-innings collapse. We piled on the runs in the second innings without much trouble. Viru [Virender Sehwag] started in his own aggressive style, but was back in the hut within six overs with the scoreboard reading 46, of which he had made 37. I, on the other end, was trying to get to terms with the new ball and hoping to make up for my early dismissal in the first innings.

For an outsider it must have looked like I was too slow because when both of us, Virat Kohli and I, walked out at tea with an almost identical individual score - I was slightly ahead, the handful of people present at the ground gave me a piece of their minds for batting too slowly for their liking. I found it a little uncalled for, but then that's how the crowd behaves - unreasonably at times. A few years ago I used to get worked up about such stuff, but now I've learned to see the lighter side and even laugh about it.

Virat and I went on to make big hundreds, but missed out on double-centuries. We shared a mammoth partnership, but not even for a moment did it feel like an effort. It was more like being on auto-pilot. Another thing that I found interesting about our partnership was that we never discussed about the lead we had conceded, or how much in front we were at different stages. That these thoughts didn't even cross our minds was perhaps an indication of how much “in the zone” we were while batting.

In the end the only blip was the weather. We were all set to declare, but before we could do it the skies opened up and washed out the final session of the third day. Ideally, we would've preferred to have two shots with the new cherry, once on the third evening - we would've put them in for 10-12 overs - and then again on the fourth morning. But that was not to be, as once the game stopped it never started again.

We lost the trophy on the basis of first-innings lead, but we gained a lot of positives out of this game. Apart from our batting on the first day, we pretty much controlled the game for the next couple of days. And had it not rained, we would've tried our best to force a result. But some things are beyond one's control; that is life.

I promise to try and be more regular in the future.

	Indoor nets: something you won't find in Delhi © Leonard Aarons

Barring Gautam [Gambhir], Viru [Virender Sehwag] and Ishant [Sharma], none of us has played the longer version since the last game of last season. We've been involved in active cricket, but it has only been in the shorter version of the game where the physical demand is very different. Shorter versions require a more dynamic approach, which is based on speed, while the longer version requires the endurance to last 90 overs a day, for four to five days. Batting in the longer version requires more adjustment in the head, but bowlers have their job cut out. Unlike bowling four and 10 overs in Twenty20s and ODIs respectively, they're in for a long haul. They must send down at least 15 to 20 overs a day, and in different and longer spells.

We faced a slight hiccup in our preparation as rain decided to play spoilsport.The rain came down in the night, and unfortunately, it blew away the covers, leaving the practice wickets completely drenched. We couldn't get a hit for a couple of days, and were reduced to focusing on the physical aspect once again.

A friend of mine had come down from England and come to the ground with me to see our training session. He absolutely loved our new stadium in Delhi, but was a little disappointed to see that we didn't get a hit in the nets. He asked me if I was frustrated for not getting an opportunity to bat. Of course I was, and I promptly told him so. He couldn’t believe we didn't have indoor facilities. Delhi, after all, is where one the most affluent cricket boards in the country is located, and we are the Ranji champions. I told him that there were plans to provide for a state-of-the-art indoor facility, but we both knew that these plans were at least a decade too late.

This reminded me of the time I spent recuperating after a knee surgery in 2003. I was almost certain I'd get called up for the Indian camp prior to the home series against New Zealand. I hadn't batted for a few months following the surgery and desperately needed to start batting. It was going to be the biggest chance of my life. But it was raining cats and dogs in Delhi, and there wasn't even a single wicket available for practice. I was desperate, but couldn't do anything about it. I ended up taking a bowler friend of mine to a nearby school where I stood in the rain and batted while we found some shade for him. I could only manage a few throw-downs everyday, definitely not the ideal preparation for attending the national camp. That was then, but nothing seems to have changed since.

Thank God the rain has stayed away for the last couple of days, and we're getting enough batting and bowling practice in the nets. Hopefully it'll be enough to take us through the first game of the season.

Wish us luck.

	The Delhi team with the Ranji Trophy © Cricinfo Ltd

Hi everyone

The new season of domestic cricket kicks off next week when Delhi, my team, take on the champion team from Pakistan at the Kotla. To be honest it seems like only yesterday that we were packing our bags after the last game of the IPL, but that's the way cricket is these days. We are certainly not complaining, though. The more cricket we get to play (we being those playing first-class cricket), the more opportunities we get to perform and get noticed, meanwhile also earning a bit of money, which is vital for a first-class cricketer.

There's never really an off-season these days, even for first-class cricketers unless they choose it to be that way. As soon as the season is over, a few go to England to play club cricket during the summer while the rest play for the organisations they work for in summer tournaments.

The ones who go to England have it a little easy as the matches are played only on weekends. During the week, they can plan their off-season training schedule as they desire, but life isn't that rosy for the ones working for different organisations back home. They find it tough to keep going in the same vein after the gruelling first-class season has finally come to an end. There are obviously a few niggles following a long season, especially if one has done well and spent long hours on the field, and a breather is almost necessary. But the organisations they're working for would have none of it. They pay these players round the year only to have them playing during this off-season. So fatigue and niggles be damned, they must turn up and do well for their employers. You can't always get what you want.

I didn't go to England this year as I had had a very long season that started in September last year and finished in May. I wanted to give myself a break, and hence chose to stay in Delhi and spend some time with my family and friends, and more importantly away from the game for a while. One needs to unwind properly in order to be 100% ready for the next assignment. If the previous assignment happens to be a nine-month-long first-class season, if you add the IPL to it, one must regroup mentally and physically to find that hunger again before embarking on the journey for the next season.

But being away from the game doesn't mean not doing anything. My mantra during the off-season is something that my dad learnt during his days in the Air Force: the more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war. We might not be preparing for a war, but a first-class season can come close to one. So while I stayed away from active cricket for a couple of months, I spent a lot of time trying to get my body in shape, hoping that it ensures an injury-free season. Not that it works that way all the time, but it often does.

This being the first domestic season after the IPL, I'm told there will be a lot more people following the cricket this year as some of the domestic players have become household names after their performances in the IPL. Apparently people would want to know a lot more about these newborn stars, and therefore would follow their progress even when they're playing for their respective state sides instead of their franchises. I'm also told that all this attention would put more pressure on the guys to perform in the domestic circuit this year.

If this turns out to be the case, all of us who have been playing first-class cricket for empty stands so far would be very happy indeed. We'd be delighted if instead of having to look for our names in the newspapers when we've done well, we find our performances played up nicely. And if all this adds a bit of extra pressure, we're more than willing to endure that.

This is the journey I'm going to embark on once again, but this year I won't be alone; I'll share it with all of you. Welcome aboard.