Vidarbha’s young pacer Darshan Nalkande, 23, was part of Punjab Kings for three years without getting an opportunity. However, he impressed one and all in his debut IPL game for Gujarat Titans (GT), claiming 2-37 in his team’s six-wicket win over his former side Punjab at the Brabourne Stadium last Friday.
Nalkande didn’t brood over those missed chances, but worked hard to claim 45 scalps in 24 T20 games and 28 dismissals in 17 List A matches over the last three years. He revealed how GT captain Hardik Pandya boosted his confidence. “He [Hardik] gave me a lot of confidence and that’s the reason I didn’t feel any pressure even in my first game. Prior to the match, he advised me to forget about pressure and play my natural game. Even in the second game [v Sunrisers Hyderabad] he was backing me after every ball,” Nalkande told mid-day on Tuesday.
Nalkande, who started off at Akola Cricket Club (ACC) at the age of seven, credited his coaches for his strong basics. He said: “I learnt a lot from my ACC coaches Bharat Dikkar sir, Pravin Muley sir and Umesh Patwal sir at the Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Residential Academy in Nagpur. I am now receiving important tips from our [GT] head coach Ashish Nehra sir on tactics and how to read a batsman’s game.”
Though Nalkande is known for his bowling, Akola-based coach Dikkar rated him a good all-rounder who can bat at No.6. “Darshan used to open the batting and bowl with the new ball in Vidarbha age group cricket. He is an equally talented batsman and I am waiting to see how he bats in the IPL,” Dikkar said.
Patwal rated Nalkande an extraordinary cricketer: “I remember him scoring a double century in a practice game in the lead-up to our Karnataka State Cricket Association tournament in Bangalore.
Darshan is like Rohit Sharma. He has natural batting and bowling skills.”
