Duleep Trophy: Far from IPL noise, Harvik Desai quietly making the right notes

At a time where Jitesh Sharma, Dhruv Jurel have made the headlines through the Indian Premier League, it is easy to miss Harvik Desai. Unlike the rest of his peers, who all enjoy a lucrative deal with the IPL franchises, and are competing for a national call-up in short format, Desai is emerging at a time when India are struggling for a reliable wicketkeeper in Tests in the absence of Rishabh Pant.
Desai is just 23, but has already played an instrumental role in Saurashtra winning two Ranji Trophy titles in the last three seasons. A top-order batter, who has mostly opened, Desai possesses a good temperament and sound technique that allows him to score across the conditions. In his first Ranji season in 2018, soon after being part of the victorious Under-19 World Cup team – where he scored the winning runs – he tallied 781 runs with one century and six fifties.
But it was during the last season, where Saurashtra won the Ranji title for the second time to go with the Vijay Hazare Trophy, that Desai started to emerge out of a Saurashtra team that is not short on talent and big names. Despite being a wicketkeeper in the age-group set-up, Desai never got to wear the gloves in the Saurashtra senior side as he played primarily as an opener. But watching the rest of his Under-19 batch mates climbing the ladder, Sheldon Jackson – a key component of Saurashtra team – would step in.
A top-order batter, who has mostly opened, Desai possesses a good temperament and sound technique that allows him to score across the conditions. (Special Arrangement)
Timely advice
“He should have started as a wicketkeeper at the senior level. And before the last season, I took him aside and told him, with so much competition around, it is not easy to be part of the national reckoning primarily being a batsman alone. I suggested he take up wicketkeeping, provided he was ready to do both the jobs (opening as well) because you need me to be multi-faceted. In no time he believed it was the way to go forward and even had it in him to inform the management to consider him as a keeper-batter going forward,” Jackson recollects to The Indian Express.
Jackson has been a huge influence on Desai’s career, who grew up idolising him. The Bhav Singh Cricket Club in Bhavnagar, where Jackson used to train, is the place where Desai started learning the game, and from time to time used to seek his advice. “He has been my mentor since my U-16 days. I have always looked up to him. When he used to come and train with us it used to be a big deal, he was playing in the IPL and for India A,” Desai says.
After scoring two centuries and three fifties in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Desai continued his form in Ranji Trophy as well, scoring three hundreds and as many 50-plus scores. (Special Arrangement)
So when Jackson told him to take up wicketkeeping and open for Saurashtra, Desai did not think twice. Opening and keeping wicket can be draining, mentally and physically, but Desai would alter his training to make himself better equipped to handle both. “For the first couple of seasons, when I just played as an opener, it wasn’t tough. But last season was different. You need to train your mind and accept that I’ve to do both. Back of my mind I know that it is going to be a long season. After keeping for two days, I will have to go and pad up for the batting immediately. There won’t be any breather. For this, you need to set a routine and you can’t skip it. If I am not honest, my game will be found out,” Desai says.
Tough-conditions batsman
After scoring two centuries and three fifties in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Desai continued his form in Ranji Trophy as well, scoring three hundreds and as many 50-plus scores. Of those three centuries, the one against Tamil Nadu in the last group game stood out as it came on a challenging track where he was the lone one to score a century. In a game where batsmen from both sides struggled against spinners on a fast deteriorating pitch, Desai had the patience and the game to carve out 101 runs in a losing cause. “He has always had the talent and even before he made the U-19 World Cup team, we (Saurashtra) played a pre-season game against a full-strength Oman team and he made some 50-odd. On his Ranji debut, he scored 78 which gave him the confidence. From thereon, each season, he has improved and matured fast. Full credit goes to him because he never shies away from taking up responsibilities and working hard,” Jackson says.
Despite being a wicketkeeper in the age-group set-up, Desai never got to wear the gloves in the Saurashtra senior side as he played primarily as an opener. (Special Arrangement)
Although some of his peers have gone ahead in the pecking order, Desai isn’t fretting too much. Having fully understood that the demanding nature of his skill would mean he can have bad days with the bat, he knows that when he sees off the new ball, he has to make it count. “Everyone has their own style. I back my game. If I try to copy them I will end up losing my own game. I back my technique and try to keep the basics intact. I am not someone who will go out there and play flashy strokes. I need time to get myself in,” Desai says.
It is this ability that West Zone will need from him on Day 4 of the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone. During the first innings, Cheteshwar Pujara, who usually bats at No 3, chose to bat at No 4 so that Desai comes at one drop. Although Desai couldn’t contribute much, scoring only 21, he would be needed in the fourth innings as South already has a lead of 248 runs with three wickets in hand.
Brief Scores: South Zone 213 and 181 for 7 (Vihari 42, Jadeja 2-27, Sheth 2-38) lead West Zone 146 (Shaw 65, Kaverappa 7-53, Vyshak 2-53) 248 runs.