After U-19 World Cup snub, Mayank Shandilya lets his efficiency do the speaking

Mayank Shandilya was over the moon when his greatest pal Dinesh Bana smoked the successful six in opposition to England within the U-19 World Cup closing. He noticed teammates Nishant Sindhu, Garv Sangwan and Dinesh Bana celebrating the title on tv at his dwelling in Bhiwani, Haryana.

“It was a mixed feeling watching Nishant, Dinesh and Garv celebrating the title. I missed the bus by a whisker. My performance was not up the mark,” Shandilya instructed The Indian Express from Kolkata.

“I just told myself that if they can do it, then why not me? All four of us have represented Haryana since our Under-14 days. We won the Vijay Merchant Trophy together a few years ago. I just wanted to perform,” added Shandilya, who took the Cooch Behar (Under-19) Trophy by storm, each with the bat and the ball.

The 18-year-old scored a staggering 950 runs in eight matches, together with three centuries with a highest rating of 224 not out in opposition to Bengal within the quarterfinal. He additionally bagged 44 wickets, together with eight five-wicket hauls. The all-rounder performed a pivotal position in Haryana successful the title. Shandilya ended up being the main run-getter in addition to the main wicket-taker within the match.

Haryana defeated Mumbai within the closing on the premise of a first-innings lead. With this win, additionally they accomplished the double as that they had already clinched the Vinoo Mankad (50-over) Trophy earlier this yr.

Haryana U-19 group after successful the Cooch Behar Trophy. (Express Photo)

“The Under-19 World Cup snub made him a better player. It hit him really hard,” says Ashwani Kumar, who runs the Shri Ram Narain Cricket Club Academy in Rohtak.

Shandilya would experience to the academy from his dwelling in Bhiwani each day in his father’s automobile. Mayank’s father, Raghuvir Shandilya, is the Chief Medical Officer within the Haryana well being division.

“It is at least 50 km one way. His father was very prompt. I can’t remember Mayank missing any training or matches,” remembers Kumar.

Haryana Under-19 coach Pankaj Thakur has at all times rated Shandilya’s batting extremely. However, what stunned him probably the most was his off-spin.

“Till Under-16, he was an opening batsman. Slowly, he became a part-timer, but in this tournament, ended up with the most wickets. The kind of turn and bounce he was generating, I was surprised, to be honest,” says Thakur, who himself was an off-spinner for Haryana.

Earlier this yr, Shandilya made his Ranji Trophy debut and in his second match in opposition to Himachal Pradesh, the opener scored a gritty 36 and 49. Jayant Yadav, who has performed Test cricket for India was additionally a part of the Haryana squad, and was impressed with Shandilya’s bowling and requested him to work more durable on it.

“Jayant bhaiya told me that I have a perfect action, and should also focus on my bowling. It will only improve my game. After the Ranji Trophy, I went home and started bowling at least 200 balls every day. Earlier, I used to be a top-order batsman who could bowl a bit, but now I consider myself a proper all-rounder,” he mentioned.

“The experience of playing in the Ranji Trophy helped me a lot. I was more confident, more relaxed and everything happened as per plan. Beating Mumbai in the final was a cherry on the cake as they had defeated us in the league stage,” Shandilya signed off.

Brief Scores

Haryana U-19 first innings: 437 all out in 122.2 overs (Rohan Deshwal 101, Nishant Sindhu 115; Suryansh Shedge 3/141, Prince Badiani 3/119)

Mumbai U-19 first innings: 303 all out in 105.1 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 97; Garv Sangwan 5/41)

Haryana U-19 2nd innings: 211 for five in 68 overs (Dinesh Bana 62 not out; Suryansh Shedge 3/86)

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Mayank Shandilya scored 950 runs in eight video games at a median of 79.17 within the U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy. He was the main run-getter of the match.

He scored 224 not out and 174 in opposition to Bengal within the quarter-final.

With 44 wickets in eight matches, Shandilya was additionally the joint highest wicket-taker of the match.

Haryana accomplished the double within the Under-19 class after successful the Vinoo Mankad (50-over) Trophy and Cooch Behar (4-day) Trophy.

Haryana skipper Nishant Sindhu was the vice-captain of the India U-19 group that received the World Cup within the Caribbean.

Sindhu, Dinesh Bana and Garv Sangwan have been additionally a part of the U-19 World Cup-winning group.

It was below Sindhu that Haryana received the Vijay Merchant (under-16) Trophy in 2018-19.