VIDARBHA’S middle-order mainstay Yash Rathod has been knocking the senior India team’s doors for quite some time. And when he got the opportunity, the left-handed batter proved it with a stupendous performance in New Zealand. Returning from India ‘As’ New Zealand tour where he scored an unbeaten century after a match-saving half century in two ‘Unofficial Tests’ between India ‘A’ and New Zealand ‘A’, Rathod was a content man that he delivered what was expected from him. The southpaw scored 44 and 66 in the first ‘Test’ which was instrumental in reviving India ‘A’ innings. Adding to that performance, Rathod hit a timely unbeaten century in the second drawn game to impress the national selectors. “It was an excellent tour (to New Zealand). I enjoyed it a lot. There were many new things that I learned. I learned how to bat in such tough conditions. I focused on every delivery with the same focus. The ball seams all the time and you have to be on your toes, fully focused. You have to be alert for every delivery.

You have to play every delivery with intensity and that’s what I did there,” Rathod told ‘The Hitavada’ after returning from New Zealand. Playing an international game for the country brings a different kind of pressure but Rathod absorbed it well. “There was pressure of playing for the country, playing an international game. I tried to adjust myself according to the situation. I was mentally prepared for what conditions I would get. What helped me was my study of matches in that country. I watched a lot of videos before embarking for New Zealand. How will the ball shape? How should the bat flow be?... all that stuff. I applied all those things during practice sessions and during matches. When I went to bat, I was a bit nervous but later on the nerves settled and I batted freely,” revealed Rathod. With seaming conditions in Lincoln and Christchurch, the two venues of the ‘Tests’, Rathod’s plan was to play as close to his body as he could. “There was lateral movement and they were bowling consistently on the same line. I tried to play as close to the body as I could and whenever I got the room, I went for scoring options. I played horizontal shots which helped me in scoring runs,” he stated.

On his unbeaten century, Rathod said, “The pitch was a bit better than what we got at Bert Sutcliffe Cricket Oval, Lincoln. “At Hagley Park South, Christchurch, I did not change my approach. My gameplan was to score runs through the square of the wicket because the ball was seaming and swinging a lot. “I was only picking those deliveries which were in my radar. To spinners, I was taking chances as the ball was not spinning that much. Yashasvi (Jaiswal) was guiding me as well. We were talking normally during our partnerships. I know him well for some years now, so we were enjoying our stay in the middle,” said Rathod of his unbeaten hundred and an undefeated partnership of 247 runs for the third wicket with Jaiswal, who himself scored an unbeaten 155. Rathod said coach Rishikesh Kanitkar and other senior players motivated him which helped him in easing pressure. “Coach and seniors guided me well. Kanitkar sir said I was very clear in my mindset and I was doing really well. Even KL Rahul appreciated my knocks in both the matches. Such positive remarks really motivated me. Rahul said I have all the shots which are useful in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and England). It means a lot if such positive comments come from a person of Rahul bhai’s stature. With such motivation, it gives confidence that what I am doing is perfect and everything is going as planned. It boosts your confidence to another level,” he added. With Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 round the corner, Rathod is back in Vidarbha set-up and is adjusting himself to the shorter format. “Just a little bit of adjustment is needed. What shot I have to play in this format and what I should avoid now...that little adjustment I am doing. Today, we played a practice match and I scored some 60 odd runs from 30-35 deliveries, so everything is going well,” Rathod signed off.