Emerging Player of the Month: Gurkeerat Singh Mann

Image// Indian Express

How do young Indian cricketers pave their way into the national side? In this cricket crazy country there are millions who aspire to wear that jersey and represent the nation, but there are only a selected few who are able to make it through to the top.  The u-19 and list ‘A’ contests definitely throw light on the young talent but for the Indian youth a major catalyst in this journey of those ‘selected few’ are the prestigious platforms of the Ranji, Duleep and Irani Trophy, which is widely watched throughout India, and other domestic leagues as well as the globally famous Indian Premier League.  

One such player who has been the talk of the town recently, is Gurkeerat Singh Mann, majorly because of receiving a call into the 15 man Indian ODI squad for the ongoing series against South Africa. While with the current Indian line up, squeezing into the frame of things might just be difficult, but being called upon by the selectors for the national side, is no small affair and at the same time this selection, definitely has a story to tell.

Mann ,who is an all rounder batting lower down the order and bowling off breaks, had his career beginning at a very early age of nine. He began playing the game at the Punjab Cricket Association in Mohali and had the opportunity of representing Punjab in the Cooch Bihar and Vinoo Mankad trophies at the U-19 levels. Later, at the U-22 level he also played the CK Naydu Trophy in 2011 for Punjab which went on to win the competition.

2012 seemed to be a major breakthrough year for him when he got picked up by the franchise Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. In the very same year he happened to make a debut in both his first-class and list –A levels for Punjab. His selection in the auction by the Kings XI, from what can be figured out, was a result of his solid performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (the Indian domestic one-day league) . In his first year for the franchise, in fact in the very second match he rose up to the occasion smashing 29 of just 12 balls against the Deccan Chargers Hyderabad, bringing his team a thrilling last ball victory and thereby getting some limelight.

Image // BCCI

Since 2012 there has been no stopping him. A powerful hitter of the ball, he is a self confessed lover of batting under pressure and on various occasions he has made a statement, making whichever team he plays for, cross the line for a victory. And why not, he derives inspiration from a universally acclaimed top finisher of the game, MS Dhoni. In an interview he said that Dhoni is his role model for they bat in similar positions.

He was Punjab’s highest run scorer in the last Ranji season with an average of around 56.4. In the 2014 season while playing for Punjab, Mann hit an unbeaten 73 on day 4 when his team had to chase a score above 200 for victory. While representing India A in August, 2015 against Australia A in the Triangular Series Final, he walked into bat when his team was faltering at 82 for 5 and chasing even 227 seemed to be an uphill task. He yet again displayed some heroics, in tremendous pressure and played a swashbuckling unbeaten innings of 87 runs in 81 balls and led his team to the title. He also took 2 wickets for 42 in the match.

Image// Indian Express

One of his best all round performances in the List A career for India came recently in September when against Bangladesh A in an ODI match, he smashed 65 runs in 59 balls and steered the team total past 300. In the second innings he topped it with a five wicket haul, registering his best bowling figures at that level of 5-29. In terms of bowling, he idolizes the Indian spin stalwart Harbhajhan Singh, and has had the opportunity of getting some advices from him as both play for Punjab.

In the 2015-16 Ranji season, precisely this very October month he registered his first double ton. He piled up 201 runs and remained unbeaten against Railways in Mohali.

For the 25-year old, the selection which he would have never anticipated of had definitely left him in a bit of shock as he said at an interview, but it will be a massive learning opportunity for him and as he says, ‘it’s a very good feeling’. Playing alongside and against international stars and even if not that learning nuances of the game and training with the international cricketers and most importantly under MS Dhoni, the man whom he idolizes, nothing could have been more better.

He is our 'Emerging Player Of The Month', we hope he gets into the playing eleven against South Africa. This young lad has a lot more to come yet for this is just the beginning.