Ranji Trophy: Punjab seamer Baltej realising teenage potential

Since making his first-class debut for Punjab in the 2011-12 season, Baltej Singh Dhanda has played only 15 matches. Out of those, six came in the 2019-20 season. At 31, the second- most senior player in the side after Gurkeerat Singh Mann has finally found his second wind.
In the first match of the ongoing season, the seamer bagged his maiden five-wicket haul against Himachal Pradesh and is hungry for more in the next few games.
“It took me 10 years and 14 matches to bag my first five-wicket haul. One can appreciate how significant the moment must be for me. It was priceless; hopefully I will get more in the future,” Baltej told The Indian Express.
Despite taking heaps of wickets in the Katoch Shield, Punjab’s inter-drict tournament, he used to warm the bench for the state side on most occasions. Punjab’s fast bowling stocks comprising VRV Singh, Manpreet Gony, Siddharth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma and Barinder Sran left Baltej sixth or seventh in the pecking order. “The competition has been so tough that I got in only if a couple of them were injured or doing national duty. I would be lucky to play one match in a season, and if everyone were available, I would not even be in the squad,” he recalled.
It wasn’t enough to get him into the Indian under-19 squad, although he was among the stands for the 2010 junior World Cup. (PTI)
Growing up in Ludhiana’s Kaddon village, Baltej’s first love was hockey. The budding central midfielder used to play cricket only in odd school tournaments. His childhood coach, Harbhajan Kala, spotted Baltej in one of the hockey games, and asked him if he had any interest in cricket.
“I was in my school’s cricket team also. I told him I was a fast bowler; he invited me into his academy for a trial. It was Kala sir, who first told me that I have the potential and can become a good bowler,” said Baltej.

In 2010, Ludhiana Drict Cricket Association (LDCA) held a trial for fast bowlers. Kala took Baltej there and he was immediately picked for the Ludhiana Under-19 team. Baltej used to cover the 24-km journey from his village to LDCA on his bicycle, but the exertion made him even more determined. Slowly, cricket took precedence over hockey.
Within a year, Baltej was in the Punjab Under-19 squad and emerged as the best bowler for his state in the Cooch Behar and Vinoo Mankad age-group tournaments. It wasn’t enough to get him into the Indian under-19 squad, although he was among the stands for the 2010 junior World Cup.
Injury setback
If the disappointment of missing out on the premier age-group world tournament was not enough, Baltej suffered a back injury and was never the same bowler again. “I lost my pace drastically after the stress fracture,” he said.
But the youngster never gave up. His father Jagjit Singh Dhanda, a boxer in the Indian Army, was his greatest source of encouragement. “My father used to tell me stories about his days in the Army. How they used to stay awake for 3-4 days without having a single bite of food. He used to motivate me a lot,” he recollected.
In 2015, Baltej attended an MRF Pace Foundation coaching clinic in Chennai, where he met Australian great Glenn McGrath. It changed his perception towards his bowling.
“I don’t even remember how many trials I have given in the last 10 years. I have attempted my luck with every franchise,” said Baltej, who was acquired Punjab Kings at his base price of Rs 20 lakh in the recent IPL mega auction.
“McGrath told me to stop worrying about lack of pace and realise that I was a seam bowler and with my height, I will always get natural bounce, which meant that if I bowled in the right areas, I could get wickets,” said the six-foot-three-inch Baltej.
The valuable advice as well as his own hard work and prowess resulted in Baltej cementing his place in the Punjab state team. Now his next aim was to get an Indian Premier League contract. He has lost count of the number of trials he had attended over the last decade.
“I don’t even remember how many trials I have given in the last 10 years. I have attempted my luck with every franchise,” said Baltej, who was acquired Punjab Kings at his base price of Rs 20 lakh in the recent IPL mega auction.

Baltej was picked as a net bowler for the franchise in the last edition. “I met Damien Wright (Punjab Kings bowling coach) last year and he helped me with minor adjustments in my bowling, which worked in my favour. He told me that if I can bowl that top of off-stump line, instead of bowling at the fourth stump, I will be more successful,” he said.
With an IPL contract in his bag, Baltej now hopes to end the domestic season with as many wickets as he can so that he could get a chance to play for India A.

“Thoda hai, thode ki chahat hai (I have got something, but want a little bit more). I want to get as many wickets as possible in the next two matches and hopefully get on the selectors’ radar, and maybe get a chance for India A,” he signed off.
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