It is rare to have achieved so much and yet be hungry for so much more. Those who follow Indian Cricket closely, know what a performer Ankit Bawne has been for Maharashtra across the years. It is only a matter of time that gets the big call and we all hope that day isn't far.
On A Good Length got the honour of interviewing Ankit, and he was humble enough to accept the request.
Before we share his responses, here is a reflection of how much he has already achieved so far, and don't miss that average! ( Image from Cricinfo)
OAGL: How have you kept your batting practice going during the lockdown? Also, how are you spending your lockdown besides cricket?
Ankit : Honestly I have not been batting in the nets because of the lockdown, all I am doing is fitness and strength training. I stay in Pune, and situation here is not getting better and it would be foolish to step out side of the house for batting practice so I am doing shadows and hanging ball practice at home. Also, I am watching my previous batting videos and going through some of my best knocks during the career and understanding my process and my game plan during those knocks( great learning experience) .So in the lockdown, I am trying to get into a great routine life, where I am waking up early, doing yoga and breathing exercises, short and intense workout session 6 days a week ,then following a good and healthy nutrition throughout the day, reading books, playing games on PS, watching movies and discovery documentaries
OAGL: At 27, you have established yourself as a linchpin of Maharashtra batting order with your consistent performances in multiple editions of Ranji Trophy now, which reflects in your first class average of over 51. Do you feel stronger than ever that a chance to wear Indian jersey is in sight now?
Ankit :Absolutely. I feel great to see my first class numbers but I am not satisfied, I know I can achieve more and there is no limit to improve yourself in the game, I got a chance to play for Ranji team at the age of 15 and very thankful to Maharashtra Cricket association for giving me that opportunity, so every time i play for Maharashtra i make sure I am giving my 100 percent and helping my team mates at the same time, as far as India call i know I am somewhere close, all I need is one brilliant season and then my previous performances can back up, as a Cricketer you cant keep thinking about India call, staying in the present and enjoying every game is very important
OAGL. In 2016, Swapnil Gugale and you recorded the highest partnership in the history of Ranji Trophy. Please narrate how the two of you planned, and went about it to register a stand of unbeaten 594 against Delhi.
Ankit: Record partnership with Swapnil is one of the great moment in my career and also in Maharashtra Cricket history, when we both were batting at no point it felt like we are going to get out, Wankhede stadium pitch is usually great for batting, we stayed to our game plan, we played positively throughout the partnership, we both had couple of big partnership together playing in age group Cricket earlier so we knew each others game and we trust each others running between the wicket, we never thought about the record at any point we just kept playing and kept scoring runs, we took session by session, we wanted to post more than 600 runs on that pitch against team like Delhi, so that was our primary focus. We kept batting and then our personal milestones followed
OAGL Ankit, what have been your best knocks so far – and why do you feel so? Does the 162 against NZ A at Vijayawada feature in that list?
Ankit : Yes surely, 162* in India A vs NZA game is one my favourite hundreds among 19. scoring a century at international level gives you great satisfaction and you understand where you stand in the circuit. also i would like to mention a 204* which i recently got against Odisha in my 100th first class game, this double hundred is very close to my heart, as i was playing my 100th game, association honoured me with a trophy and cake cutting ceremony before the game, so in return I wanted to give them one of the best inning of my career and batted throughout the innings and stayed unbeaten on 204*, also we went on to win the game so it was a really special inning for me
OAGL In the 2019-20 Ranji season, you batted at number 5 for Maharashtra. Do you feel that any particular batting spot suits your game best?
Ankit: I bat mostly Number 4 or 5, I have batted number 3 also in in the past, I don't think batting number describes anything about the batsman, i think its more to do with what team wants from you and what role they want you to play, i play good with tail-enders and i have experience on my side so may be that is one reason my team wants me to bat 4 or 5 so i can take control of the innings, but as a batsman i feel you should be able to bat at any number.
OAGL. An advice Ankit Bawne of 27 years age would give to his 17-year old younger self?
Ankit : I am very happy the way im taking things up and running so far, I would just say that there is no substitute for hardwork and always keep pushing your limits, there is long road ahead
OAGL. Lastly, a quick rapid-fire
Your favourite cricketer? MS Dhoni
Your favourite movie? Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
How many hours do you spend daily on fitness? 2 hours everyday
You favorite cheat meal? Cheesecake
A cricketer you would love to chat for hours with? Gautam Gambhir
If you hadn’t become a cricketer, you would have probably been into which profession? Maybe into Boxing
On A Good Length got the honour of interviewing Ankit, and he was humble enough to accept the request.
Before we share his responses, here is a reflection of how much he has already achieved so far, and don't miss that average! ( Image from Cricinfo)
 |
| PC: Cricinfo |
OAGL: How have you kept your batting practice going during the lockdown? Also, how are you spending your lockdown besides cricket?
Ankit : Honestly I have not been batting in the nets because of the lockdown, all I am doing is fitness and strength training. I stay in Pune, and situation here is not getting better and it would be foolish to step out side of the house for batting practice so I am doing shadows and hanging ball practice at home. Also, I am watching my previous batting videos and going through some of my best knocks during the career and understanding my process and my game plan during those knocks( great learning experience) .So in the lockdown, I am trying to get into a great routine life, where I am waking up early, doing yoga and breathing exercises, short and intense workout session 6 days a week ,then following a good and healthy nutrition throughout the day, reading books, playing games on PS, watching movies and discovery documentaries
 |
| PC: Cricket Country |
OAGL: At 27, you have established yourself as a linchpin of Maharashtra batting order with your consistent performances in multiple editions of Ranji Trophy now, which reflects in your first class average of over 51. Do you feel stronger than ever that a chance to wear Indian jersey is in sight now?
Ankit :Absolutely. I feel great to see my first class numbers but I am not satisfied, I know I can achieve more and there is no limit to improve yourself in the game, I got a chance to play for Ranji team at the age of 15 and very thankful to Maharashtra Cricket association for giving me that opportunity, so every time i play for Maharashtra i make sure I am giving my 100 percent and helping my team mates at the same time, as far as India call i know I am somewhere close, all I need is one brilliant season and then my previous performances can back up, as a Cricketer you cant keep thinking about India call, staying in the present and enjoying every game is very important
"As a Cricketer you cant keep thinking about India call, staying in the present and enjoying every game is very important"
OAGL. In 2016, Swapnil Gugale and you recorded the highest partnership in the history of Ranji Trophy. Please narrate how the two of you planned, and went about it to register a stand of unbeaten 594 against Delhi.
Ankit: Record partnership with Swapnil is one of the great moment in my career and also in Maharashtra Cricket history, when we both were batting at no point it felt like we are going to get out, Wankhede stadium pitch is usually great for batting, we stayed to our game plan, we played positively throughout the partnership, we both had couple of big partnership together playing in age group Cricket earlier so we knew each others game and we trust each others running between the wicket, we never thought about the record at any point we just kept playing and kept scoring runs, we took session by session, we wanted to post more than 600 runs on that pitch against team like Delhi, so that was our primary focus. We kept batting and then our personal milestones followed
"We kept batting and then our personal milestones followed"
OAGL Ankit, what have been your best knocks so far – and why do you feel so? Does the 162 against NZ A at Vijayawada feature in that list?
Ankit : Yes surely, 162* in India A vs NZA game is one my favourite hundreds among 19. scoring a century at international level gives you great satisfaction and you understand where you stand in the circuit. also i would like to mention a 204* which i recently got against Odisha in my 100th first class game, this double hundred is very close to my heart, as i was playing my 100th game, association honoured me with a trophy and cake cutting ceremony before the game, so in return I wanted to give them one of the best inning of my career and batted throughout the innings and stayed unbeaten on 204*, also we went on to win the game so it was a really special inning for me
OAGL In the 2019-20 Ranji season, you batted at number 5 for Maharashtra. Do you feel that any particular batting spot suits your game best?
Ankit: I bat mostly Number 4 or 5, I have batted number 3 also in in the past, I don't think batting number describes anything about the batsman, i think its more to do with what team wants from you and what role they want you to play, i play good with tail-enders and i have experience on my side so may be that is one reason my team wants me to bat 4 or 5 so i can take control of the innings, but as a batsman i feel you should be able to bat at any number.
OAGL. An advice Ankit Bawne of 27 years age would give to his 17-year old younger self?
Ankit : I am very happy the way im taking things up and running so far, I would just say that there is no substitute for hardwork and always keep pushing your limits, there is long road ahead
OAGL. Lastly, a quick rapid-fire
Your favourite cricketer? MS Dhoni
Your favourite movie? Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
How many hours do you spend daily on fitness? 2 hours everyday
You favorite cheat meal? Cheesecake
A cricketer you would love to chat for hours with? Gautam Gambhir
If you hadn’t become a cricketer, you would have probably been into which profession? Maybe into Boxing
