Young Malewar rues missed opportunity

Vidarbha batter Danish Malewar continued his good run in the Ranji Trophy.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

For a rookie who debuted in Vidarbha’s season-opener, Danish Malewar appeared flawless en route crossing the 500-run mark in the season and his sixth fifty-plus score against an intimidating opponent in the Ranji Trophy semifinal.

Just when he was closing in on what could have been his second First Class hundred, the 21-year-old from the Orange City had a lapse in concentration. Instead of playing left-arm spinner Shams Mulani straight down the ground, he closed the face of his bat, missed the ball and was dejected to see umpire Virender Sharma wasting no time in adjudging him lbw.

It was his fifth half-century to go with one hundred but rather than enjoying his first Ranji outing against Mumbai, Malewar was disappointed to have been unable to convert it into a big one.

“It’s developed into a sort of a pattern, so when I entered into the 60s, I was looking more at the scoreboard and was desperate to cross the 80-run mark. Perhaps that’s what led to the mistake but it’s a learning,” said Malewar.

The blip that cost him his wicket aside, Malewar looked confident during his 79-run knock. He judged the length to perfection, was solid at the crease against pace and his spin alike.

Besides his charge down the wicket off Shams Mulani for a six early on, a cover drive off Mohit Avasthi soon afterwards and a pull off Shardul Thakur in the third session were a treat to watch.

“I was not at all overawed by the opponents or the occasion. I was delighted to have played to the merit of the ball and help the team as much as I could,” he said.

Malewar hails from a typical middle-class family, with his father Vishnu being a small savings collection agent and mother a homemaker. But ever since he was enrolled into the City Gymkhana Academy at the age of seven, Danish has been striving to fulfil the dream of Malewar Sr. of watching him in the India jersey.

Despite being hard-pressed for money – with mentors at his school aiding him by gifting a bat every year during his formative years – a young Danish has managed to convert the peer pressure into his biggest strength.

“I have never taken it as a pressure. When your parents believe in you so much, it turns out to be the biggest motivating factor. I just hope to keep building on a decent first Ranji season for me.,” Malewar said.