I still look forward to playing for the country: Kanwaljit Singh

Kanwaljit Singh © CricInfo

No one above forty has played Test cricket for India since Vinoo Mankad in 1959. Kanwaljit Singh might yet buck the trend. In the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, the 42-year-old has spun his way to 113 Ranji Trophy wickets, and certainly there is no more guileful off spinner in the country today. A telephonic conversation with him in Hyderabad last week made it clear that the fire still rages within the man. The unmistakable desire for a taste of international cricket remains unsatiated.

I asked him how he felt when he heard people call him the best off spinner in the country today. "It sounds good" was his immediate reaction. Pressed further to confess whether he believed it, Kanwal replied, "I always believed in myself. I always thought I was good. It's for the people who watch, they're the ones who decide", he trailed off. Making his first class debut for Hyderabad in the 1980-81 season, the India cap has persistently eluded him over twenty years. Late to mature, he reached the zenith of his capabilities in the early nineties. But for much of this period Rajesh Chauhan was the preferred off spinning representative in the Indian spin troika. As Chauhan never ended on the losing side in 21 Tests for India, it is difficult to fault the selectors' judgement.

Kanwaljit's closest brush with the India colours probably came in 1994/95 when he was called into the India A team for the third `Test' against England A at Chandigarh. He responded in typically combative fashion, grabbing figures of 2/35 and 4/49, but the visitors sneaked home to a one wicket victory. Kanwaljit also had a good run in the three one-dayers that followed although the longer version of the game probably afforded greater challenges for him. By his own admission he believed the moment was ripe for him to catch the selectoral eye. However as luck would have it, India did not have any Test matches scheduled in their international calendar later that season and Kanwaljit was soon conveniently forgotten.

Hyderabad has won the Ranji Trophy just once during Kanwaljit's first class career and curiously enough he chose that particular season (1986/87) to turn out for neighbouring Tamil Nadu. In tandem with slow left armer Venkatapathy Raju, he forms one of the most potent twin strike forces in domestic cricket. Kanwaljit is quick to pay tribute to his spinning mate. "With a bowler of Raju's class at the other end, you don't have to worry. A disciplined bowler at the other end makes your job easier and vice versa. It's very important to have a good combination. The attack has to be very balanced."

Oftentimes has Kanwaljit conjured up victories when there were hardly any runs in the scorebook to bowl with. But inarguably the most compelling yet tragic demonstration of his powers was on the losing side against Karnataka in the Ranji semifinal of 1997/98 at Secunderabad's Gymkhana Ground. Having taken seven wickets in each innings to leave Karnataka gasping at 138/9 chasing a modest fourth innings target of 154, Kanwaljit had a chance put down by Daniel Manohar fielding close to the wicket with the last pair at the crease. Manohar also dropped a catch off Raju for good measure and Karnataka sneaked home by one wicket.

Should his age be held against him? It's a ticklish question. Certainly in one-dayers a younger, more athletic figure who can wield the willow with a fair bit of dash as well would hold a superior claim. But in the searching cauldron of Test cricket where you need to bowl out sides twice, there is no substitute for a genuine attacking bowler. The younger brigade simply do not seem to be ready to make the cut just yet. The present trend is to give youngsters the break on promise rather than on proven ability, trusting that baptism by fire can mould them into better bowlers. Perhaps the time has come for people to earn their place in the team. The Under-19 and India A forums as well as matches against touring sides can offer youngsters all the experience they need but in Test cricket one really shouldn't be looking beyond the best candidate for the job.

I asked Kanwaljit whether he has observed any young off spinner in the country who can make the grade. A long pause followed during which you wonder whether the line has been disconnected. There is a tone of finality about his voice. "In all the matches I've played in, I haven't really seen anyone who's impressed me. Maybe there are people but I haven't seen anyone worth mentioning", he hastens to add, and then elaborates. "Actually sad isn't it? Guys want to play too easy these days, They're not coming up the hard way. They just come up and fade away unable to cope with the pressure. In the past 2-3 seasons I've been doing well. I still look forward to playing for the country. I'm still fit. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be playing." India's first ever spin bowler RJD Jamshedji was 41 years old on his Test debut in 1933. Will Kanwaljit do a Jamshedji?