02-10-2020, 06:22 AM
Ankit Bawne has had an intriguing career. He made his first-class debut at 15, in 2007-08, and established himself as a regular in the Maharashtra side in three years. Since 2010-11, he has never averaged less than 45 in a Ranji Trophy season. Six days shy of turning 24, Bawne is already some sort of veteran: he has played 68 first-class matches and scored 4663 runs at an average of 52.98, including 15 hundreds. A List A average of 43.08 from 43 games suggests he is not a one-format player.Despite his numbers, Bawne has never been part of India A or IPL squads. He doesnt deny feeling disappointed but offers a practical alternative to sulking. There is just one goal - to play for India. Till that time, I have to keep fighting, he tells ESPNcricinfo at the end of Maharashtras Group B match against Assam in Chennai. I look at it positively because in cricket there is no point in being negative; you only get demotivated.Five years ago Bawne could have easily become demotivated after making headlines for the wrong reasons. He was removed from the India under-19 squad ahead of a quadrangular tournament in Visakhapatnam after the date of birth in his passport was found to not match the one in his birth certificate and the BCCIs records. As it didnt meet the cut-off date for the 2012 Under-19 World Cup, Bawne, who was originally named captain for the quadrangular tournament, was omitted. Unmukt Chand took over the captaincy and went on to win the World Cup, even as Bawne lamented that the agent who had arranged for his passport had mixed up the dates.Bawne does not think the episode hindered his future selections, but admits the controversy was a test of his mental toughness, especially with the odd taunt tossed at him on the field. You have to endure such stuff. In cricket, there are no easy days, he says. The support of my family, the team coach and Ajay [Shirke] sir, our president [of the Maharashtra Cricket Association], was crucial. But, you have to be tough and remain steadfast in your goals. The character I showed at that time has led to where I am now.The Under-19 was a shortcut for me to the national side, but the ultimate dream is to play for the senior team. I dont think [my performances are overshadowed by the controversy] because Ranji Trophy is not an under-19 tournament. The selectors have played enough cricket to know that Ranji Trophy performances count as far as selection for Test cricket is concerned. Many players obviously get a chance by virtue of the IPL, but I am not a part of the IPL, so Ranji Trophy is everything to me.Many quality players in domestic cricket have rued the chance for lesser talents to attract selectors attentions with a few good IPL performances. Bawne too says not playing in the IPL is a setback because of the recall value it brings.It is a little tough at the Ranji Trophy level compared to the IPL; this time there are no [league] matches being broadcast in contrast to the IPL where every match is shown live. Teen ghante ka match hota hai, 14 matches hote hai, do shot bhi koi achcha khela toh notice ho jaata hai (the game spans three hours and there are 14 matches. Even if someone plays two good shots, he gets noticed).Bawne, however, understands there are many routes to the Indian dressing room, and that batsmen better than him have taken the harder route and succeeded. He derives comfort from how long the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had to grind it out in domestic cricket before breaking into the national side. A chat with Virender Sehwag further strengthened his belief that the rigours of the Ranji Trophy would ultimately prove rewarding.Pujara and Rahane got their chances after scoring about 5000 runs in first-class cricket, Bawne says. When you play 60-70 first-class matches and then play Test cricket, you see how these players dominate in international cricket.During the last season, when we were playing against Haryana, I asked Virender Sehwag sir how I could make the step up to the next level. He told me I was playing well and I will get my chances. It wasnt like I would be completely ignored.Bawne knows he has to score at least 700-800 runs every season - his personal target hovers around the 1000-run mark - to be on the selectors radar. He is Maharashtras leading run-getter this season with 687 runs at an average of 57.25, but will not get any more opportunities to inch towards 1000 runs with his team failing to make the knockouts.The accomplishment of a maiden double-hundred, though, has given him plenty of satisfaction. His 258 came in the course of the second-highest partnership in first-class history in the company of captain Swapnil Gugale in Delhi.Whatever I have set out to achieve - to score big runs, to remain consistent and average around 50 - I have done that. I wanted to score a double-hundred this time, he says. I bat at No.5-6, so I mostly have to score runs with the bowlers for company. Luckily against Mumbai, since Kedar Jadhav was away for the New Zealand [ODI] series, I got to bat at No.4. It was a good wicket and there was a quality opposition in the form of Delhi, so I couldnt let go of that chance.Bawne also sees a role-model in Indias limited-overs captain MS Dhoni. In 2014-15, when Bawne hit a dead-end in his limited-overs batting, he decided to re-invent his game. Bawne says he picked up cues from watching Dhoni on TV and applied the knowledge during practice. The results were instant as Bawne scored two hundreds and an unbeaten 78 from four innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.I have been inspired by how he [Dhoni] makes runs in the one-dayers, especially with the lower order, and how he plays percentage cricket, he says. I didnt want to be a one-dimensional player and wanted to average around 45-50 in one-dayers. I was trying to clear the ropes, and focusing on my release shots as well.Closer home, Bawne has found inspiration in Jadhav, whose recent successes in international cricket, he feels, have provided him and his team-mates a template to follow.When six-seven players from Mumbai or Delhi used to make it to the Indian team, it became easier for the others to stay under the radar and keep performing, he says. I got to know what the path was after seven-eight years of hard-work. Had there been an India player in the side, you would have learnt it in two years.Now we know the path to succeed - Kedar has scored 1000 runs and progressed. When I talk to Kedar, he says its a big deal to have 5000-odd runs at my age and keeps telling me to stick it out.That would be good advice, especially with the chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad, taking notice of Bawnes performances. His records have been good, but this year he has been very consistent, Prasad tells ESPNcricinfo. My colleagues have watched him bat this season and I have seen him bat last year. He is a good player.Bawne feels he is currently in the best form of his life. This year I am feeling very comfortable, he says. I am not trying to take risks and I dont feel nervous at all. Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl Jersey . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). 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No rule exists that a driver has to win the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win the title.But in the first two years of the elimination-style Chase for the Sprint Cup format, a Chase driver has won the race to hoist the Sprint Cup trophy. And not just that, in both years the driver who finished second was among the four championship-eligible drivers.So when Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards say they think they have to win Sunday, they have the relatively small history of the elimination-style Chase at least backing up such a statement.We race to win every week -- why should we race differently for a championship, right? said Logano, who was foiled by a bad pit stop in the 2014 championship race. Were racing to win that race, and thats ultimately going to have a championship attached to that.Heres how the four finalists -- in order of NASCAR seeding, based on best finish in the previous round -- stack up heading into the 2016 title bout:1. Joey LoganoTeam Penske No. 22 FordChampionships: NoneWins in the third round: OnePoints: 4,118 (first)Why he will win the title: Logano has won two of the three elimination races in this Chase, which shows his ability to capitalize on the moment. He has all the momentum and the experience of falling short in 2014, and he appears to be having the most fun of anyone in the Chase. Why? Maybe because he has the most Chase wins over the past three years (seven).Why he wont: A Ford has not won in the past nine races on a 1.5-mile or 2-mile aerodynamic-dependent track. Logano was second at Texas, but that might not be good enough Sunday.2. Jimmie JohnsonHendrick Motorsports No. 48 ChevroletChampionships: Six (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013)Wins in the third round: OnePoints: 4,078 (sixth)Why he will win the title: Because hes Jimmie Johnson and hes alrready won six of these trophies.dddddddddddd He also rips the heart out of the people he calls the haters, and its time to disappoint the people who cant accept his greatness.Why he wont: Johnson rarely has had to run spectacular at Homestead to win the title. He has just four top-5s in 15 career starts at the track.3. Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs Racing No. 19 ToyotaChampionships: NoneWins in the third round:?OnePoints: 4,071 (eighth)Why he will win the title: His two victories at Homestead and 9.2 average finish at that track rank him above any of the other Chase finalists. He won two weeks ago at Texas, a somewhat similar track, with the same tire that teams will use Sunday. And having to lose one to win one? Well, Edwards has lost twice. He has finished second in the standings twice without winning the title -- one of only three drivers to finish second in the standings multiple times and not win a title.Why he wont: This is a what have you done for me lately? world. Edwards finished 11th at Homestead in 2015. His average finish in this Chase is 14.9, the worst among the four drivers.4. Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs Racing No. 18 ToyotaChampionships: One (2015)Wins in the third round: NonePoints: 4,113 (second)Why he will win the title: Busch has the best 2016 Chase average finish (7.3) and most 2016 Chase top-5s (six) among the four finalists. He likes to do things that put him on another level: Only three drivers since 1972 have won their first two titles back-to-back.Why he wont: Busch has the longest winless drought among the four finalists; he hasnt won in his last 15 starts. Not only that, he hasnt been in position to win that often -- he has led more than three laps in just two of the Chase races. ' ' '