Saurashtra was shining on India’s cricketing legacy Sunday. They clinched the prestigious Ranji Trophy for the second time in the last four seasons. They last won it in 1998-90. Arpit Vasavada, with his brilliant batting, led Saurashtra to defeat Bengal by nine wickets to lift the title at Eden Gardens. The ace batter was adjudged the Player of the Series.
With 907 runs at an average of 75.78 in 10 matches and 15 innings, Vasavada was consistent this Ranji season. He also managed to score three centuries and three half-centuries, with the best individual score of 202.
And all this was not a "fluke", Vasavada tells ABP Live in an exclusive chat over the phone.
“Obviously, it feels great to win the trophy twice. The first time when we won the Ranji Trophy, it was special but it became even more surreal to grab the trophy a second time. People usually tell us - pehli baar toh log tukke se jeet gaye aur wo bhi apne home ground mei (won by fluke during the first time, that too on home ground). This time we played outside our home and won the trophy,” he says.
The Saurashtra vice-captain scored 81 crucial runs while replying to the Bengals’ 174 runs in the first innings. All it took was their skipper Jaydev Unadkat’s six-wicket haul and three wickets from his colleague Chetan Sakariya, and they outplayed Bengal in their backyard by nine wickets. After conquering the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 50-over format, they have grabbed their second title this season.
Soon after the victory, Unadkat took to Twitter to post a video where fans were cheering for them at the airport.
After seeing the video, Vasavada, the second-highest run-scorer in this Ranji Trophy season, was "speechless". “I was dazed to see fans standing outside the airport. It was an amazing feeling. I have never seen this scene before in reality, I have only seen such things happening in movies. This was the very first time I have witnessed this, I don’t know how to describe this in words. I am speechless,” he says.
The prolific Saurashtra batter is all praise for skipper Jaydev Unadkat. “Jaydev is the one who set the culture. He is the one who taught us to win big tournaments. Under his captaincy, everyone is free to play the game to their potential. He has got the ability to take out the best from each and every player. He always backs us. And as a team, we are a family. We enjoy each other’s company,” he says.
Vasavada’s Cricketing Journey
Arpit Vasavada remembers the time he played his first Ranji Trophy final in 2013 against Mumbai, which had stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan at Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai won. Back then, Vasavada says, his temperament was different, and he was not that mature. The next couple of years were not good as the left-hand batter had a below-average season, and then he was dropped from the team.
But Vasavada made a comeback.
“All I would like to say is that I have become more mature as a person than I was in 2012-13. Back then I always used to think about the future but now I usually try to be in present. Ever since Covid happened, I decoded that life is very unpredictable, anything can happen and it taught us to think about the present. For me, the most important thing is I am playing cricket and I think this is the only important thing. I learnt a lot as a cricketer. I want to enjoy my presence on the field to the fullest, no matter whether I am scoring runs or not,” he shares.
An experienced cricketer in India's domestic circuit, the 34-year-old has played 77 First Class matches and scored 4,539 runs at a wholesome average of 40.52. In 73 list A matches, he amassed 2,210 runs for Saurashtra.
Family Support And Encouragement
Vasavada’s family has supported him immensely. He started playing cricket at the age of 12. His father has been a dedicated Railways employee and mother is a homemaker. Vasavada’s father was a cricket geek and that motivated him to pursue the game as a professional.
“My father has always supported me through thick and thin. Mere papa retired hai ab and abhi bhi mera match dekhne pahuch jaate hain (He is retired now but still reaches the ground to see me play),” he says.
"Since I got married, my wife has been playing a crucial role in my life. We live in a joint family and she does everything without any complaints. I am really thankful to my family,” Vasavada adds.
On sharing the change room with stalwarts like Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteshwar Pujara, Vasavada says: “Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteshwar Pujara are the stalwarts of Saurashtra. Whenever they are free, they come to us and talk about the game. They don’t behave in a way that they are international cricket players, they always make us comfortable. Their presence inspires us to do better. I have grown up playing cricket with Pujara and I am very close to him. Whenever they share the dressing room with us, they are fully involved in the game. Unko fark nahin padta ki hum ek game khel rahe hain ya doh, woh jitna bhi khelte hai team ko jeetane ke liye khelte hain (It doesn't matter to them if they are playing one game or two, whenever they play, they do it to win).”
The Pujara Connection
Arpit Vasavada and Cheteshwar Pujara are childhood friends. They have played a lot of cricket together. The left-handed batsman hails from the same school of batsmanship as Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara’s father Arvind also coached Vasavada.
“Cheteshwar Pujara’s dad and my father used to work together in the Railways. I started practising in Arvind Pujara’s (Cheteshwar Pujara’s dad) cricket academy,” he recalls.
Vasavada was elated after Pujara featured in his 100 Test match for India. “I am happy to see that my childhood friend Cheteshwar Pujara has played 100 Tests for the Indian team. It’s a huge feat. I have seen him playing back from our school days. His dedication and commitment for the game are unmatchable. I am very happy for him.”
Vasavada has always played for the Saurashtra team in all formats of domestic cricket under all age groups. Talking about the legacy Saurashtra should leave behind, Vasavada says: “Our goal is to motivate the upcoming generations to take up this game on a professional front. I want them to continue our legacy ahead.”