“Dhoni and Harbhajan Are My Role Models,” Says Gurkeerat Singh
Included in the Indian squads vs SA, Gurkeerat Singh and S Aravind talk about the players who inspired them the most.
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25-year-old Punjab all-rounder Gurkeerat Singh Mann earned his first India call-up today as the selectors gave him the nod for the first three ODI’s against South Africa next month.
Soon after the announcement, Mann, playing for India A in Bangalore currently, spoke to the media and said Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh were his batting and bowling role models.
In the current lot, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is my batting role model because we both play very much at the same batting order. I relate to his game a lot, and I earnestly watch him bat whenever he is playing for India. I get to learn a lot from him.
– Gurkeerat Singh Mann
Gurkeerat struck a fine 65 in the opening game and also returned with figures of 5/29 with his off-spin to give India A the lead in the unofficial ODI series vs Bangladesh A. Rahul Dravid’s wards then went on to win the series on Sunday with a 75-run (D/L) win in the final fixture.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of that match, the Muktsar-born player said he always looked up to the veteran off-spinner Harbhajan for tips.
My bowling role model is Harbhajan Singh. We were lucky to have him play in this year’s Ranji Trophy. Whenever I had a bowling problem I went up to him for some vital tips.
– Gurkeerat Singh
Another player to have earned a debut call-up is S Aravind, who’s been named in the T20 squad.
The left-arm pacer, who can also bowl spin, bagged three wickets in the opening unofficial ODI against Bangladesh A and then picked up two crucial scalps today as well in the decider.
While crediting Rahul Dravid for his great run, the 31-year-old said he was most influenced by Wasim Akram and Zaheer Khan and even Mitchell Johnson.
My role model has been Wasim Akram and then Zaheer Khan and now Mitchell Starc, who gave me some vital bowling tips. I learnt from Starc how to bowl yorkers over the wicket. Also I got valuable tips about having Plan A and Plan B to get into the skin of the batsmen.
– S Aravind