15 January,2017 06:58 AM IST | | Subodh Mayure
Gujarat pacer Chintan Gaja, who claimed eight wickets against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy final, is just three months old in this tournament and was playing only his third first-class game
Chintan Gaja
Gujarat pacer Chintan Gaja
Indore: It took Parthiv Patel 168 first-class games spread over 16 years to taste Ranji Trophy success. In contrast, Gujarat pacer Chintan Gaja, who claimed eight wickets against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy final, is just three months old in this tournament and was playing only his third first-class game.
Gaja thanked his good friend and India pacer Jasprit Bumrah for helping him guide Gujarat to their most memorable win.
60 overs for first scalp
"I had to bowl almost 60 overs to get my first Ranji wicket. I went wicketless in my first game against UP after bowling 28 overs. In the second game against Tamil Nadu, I bowled 35 overs and then got my first wicket. Jasprit guided me in the right way. He spoke me at length and pointed out my technical faults. He gave me a lot of confidence when it came to taking wickets.
"I observed him bowling in the semi-final in which he claimed six wickets in the second innings against Jharkhand. I was then convinced I could take wickets," Gaja, who claimed Mumbai's six wickets in the second innings told mid-day on Saturday.
Bumrah loss
Gaja played the final because Bumrah is on India duty for the limited overs series against England which kicks off in Pune today.
"Parthivbhai (Patel) told me that I am playing this game the night before the final. I said to myself then that I need to grab this opportunity. Jasprit told me to stick to my basics and hit the right length. Taking a six-wicket haul in a Ranji Trophy final is a big achievement for me," the 22-year-old Gaja remarked.
