Chirag Gandhi counterattacks with massive ton in Irani Trophy
Gandhi came to bat in the post lunch session after Singh and Kaul had reduced Gujarat to 82/4.
Mumbai: Chirag Gandhi counter attacked with an unbeaten 136 in 159 balls, his maiden first class ton, to guide Ranji Trophy champions Gujarat to 300/8 at the end of first day’s play of Irani Trophy match against Rest of India at Brabourne stadium here on Friday.
Siddharth Kaul (4/73) dismissed dangerous Parthiv Patel (11) before lunch and went on to take three more wickets despite injuring his finger while fielding. Pankaj Singh dismissed both the in-form Gujarat openers Samit Gohel (0) and Priyank Panchal (30) before wrapping up the day with figures of 3/77.
Gandhi came to bat in the post lunch session after Singh and Kaul had reduced Gujarat to 82/4. The 26-year-old forged 109-run stand with Manprit Juneja (47) to take his team out of trouble and then carried on with the tail to take his side to a respectable score.
He completed his hundred in 125 balls with eleven boundaries and a six and later struck seven more boundaries to do bulk of scoring in unbroken ninth wicket stand of 39 with Hardik Patel (9 not out).
“My mind was blank and I wasn’t thinking anything and had no pressure. I am used to such situations while coming down the order and have got used to bat with tail. Today after getting my eye in I went after the ball when it was in my zone without worrying about anything,” said Gandhi who has been in and out of the side in last few seasons.
“Earlier we had Venu Gopal Rao in middle order so I was getting less chances. From last year, I know my role is of a finisher while coming at no 6 or 7 especially in shorter format. I had a chat with Mahi (MS Dhoni) recently during the Ranji semi-final against Jharkhand (in Nagpur). He told me to be calculated and target certain bowlers while finishing games in shorter format,” said Gandhi who scored the winning runs against Mumbai in the Ranji final at Indore. “That’s a life-time moment. Every time the footage of our maiden Ranji triumph will be shown that shot will be there,” Gandhi said.
Brief scores
Gujarat 300/8 in 88 overs (Chirag Gandhi 136*, Manpreet Juneja 47; Siddharth Kaul 4/73, Pankaj Singh 3/77) vs Rest of India.